Vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers and methods to produce thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers having an Mn of at least 200 g/mol (measured by  1 H NMR) including of one or more C 4  to C 40  higher olefin derived units, where the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units; and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% allyl chain ends and processes for the production thereof. These vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers may optionally include ethylene derived units.

STATEMENT OF RELATED CASES

This application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 12/143,663, filed on Jun. 20, 2008 (Published as WO 2009/155471); U.S. Ser. No. 12/487,739, filed on Jun. 19, 2009 (Published as WO 2009/155472); U.S. Ser. No. 12/488,066, filed on Jun. 19, 2009 (Published as WO 2009/155510); 12/488,093 filed on Jun. 19, 2009 (Published as WO 2009/155517); and U.S. Ser. No. 12/642,453, filed Dec. 18, 2009; which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/533,465 filed on Jul. 31, 2009, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/136,172, filed on Aug. 15, 2008; which are all incorporated by reference herein.

This invention also relates to the following concurrently filed applications:

a) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,280, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Novel Catalysts and Methods of Use Thereof to Produce Vinyl Terminated Polymers”;

b) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,189, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Amine Functionalized Polyolefin and Methods for Preparation Thereof”;

c) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,279, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Enhanced Catalyst Performance for Production of Vinyl Terminated Propylene and Ethylene/Propylene Macromers”;

d) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,383, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Diblock Copolymers Prepared by Cross Metathesis”;

e) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,261, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Amphiphilic Block Polymers Prepared by Alkene Metathesis”;

f) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,305, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Hydrosilylation of Vinyl Macromers with Metallocenes”;

g) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,432, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Olefin Triblock Polymers via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization”;

h) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,330, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Block Copolymers from Silylated Vinyl Terminated Macromers”;

i) U.S. Ser. No. 13/072,249, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Vinyl Terminated Higher Olefin Copolymers and Methods to Produce Thereof”; and

j) U.S. Ser. No. 61/467,681, filed Mar. 25, 2011, entitled “Branched Vinyl Terminated Polymers and Methods for Production Thereof”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to olefin polymerization, particularly to produce vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alpha-olefins, especially those containing about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, have been used as intermediates in the manufacture of detergents or other types of commercial products. Such alpha-olefins have also been used as comonomers, especially in linear low density polyethylene. Commercially produced alpha-olefins are typically made by oligomerizing ethylene. Longer chain alpha-olefins, such as vinyl-terminated polyethylenes are also known and can be useful as building blocks following functionalization or as macromonomers.

Allyl terminated low molecular weight solids and liquids of ethylene or propylene have also been produced, typically for use as branches in polymerization reactions. See, for example, Rulhoff, Sascha and Kaminsky, (“Synthesis and Characterization of Defined Branched Poly(propylene)s with Different Microstructures by Copolymerization of Propylene and Linear Ethylene Oligomers (C_(n)=26-28) with Metallocenes/MAO Catalysts,” Macromolecules, 16, 2006, pp. 1450-1460) and Kaneyoshi, Hiromu et al. (“Synthesis of Block and Graft Copolymers with Linear Polyethylene Segments by Combination of Degenerative Transfer Coordination Polymerization and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization,” Macromolecules, 38, 2005, pp. 5425-5435).

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,540 discloses bis(pentamethyl cyclopentadienyl) hafnium dichloride, bis(pentamethyl cyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride and bis(tetramethyl n-butyl cyclopentadienyl) hafnium dichloride with methylalumoxane in toluene or hexane with or without hydrogen to make allylic vinyl terminated propylene homo-oligomers having a low degree of polymerization of 2-10. These oligomers do not have high Mn's and do not have at least 93% allylic vinyl unsaturation. Likewise, these oligomers lack comonomer and are produced at low productivities with a large excess of alumoxane (molar ratio ≧600 Al/M; M=Zr, Hf). Additionally, no less than 60 wt % solvent (solvent+propylene basis) is present in all of the examples.

Teuben et al. (J. Mol. Catal., 62, 1990, pp. 277-287) discloses the use of [Cp*₂MMe(THT)]+[BPh₄] (M=Zr and Hf; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; Me=methyl, Ph=phenyl; THT=tetrahydrothiophene), to make propylene oligomers. For M=Zr, a broad product distribution with oligomers up to C₂₄ (number average molecular weight (Mn) of 336) was obtained at room temperature. Whereas, for M=Hf, only the dimer 4-methyl-1-pentene and the trimer 4,6-dimethyl-1-heptene were formed. The dominant termination mechanism appeared to be beta-methyl transfer from the growing chain back to the metal center, as was demonstrated by deuterium labeling studies.

X. Yang et al. (Angew. Chem. Intl Ed. Engl., 31, 1992, pp. 1375) discloses amorphous, low molecular weight polypropylene made at low temperatures where the reactions showed low activity and product having 90% allylic vinyls, relative to all unsaturations, by ¹H NMR. Thereafter, Resconi et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114, 1992, pp. 1025-1032) discloses the use of bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium and bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafnium to polymerize propylene and obtained beta-methyl termination resulting in oligomers and low molecular weight polymers with “mainly allyl- and iso-butyl-terminated” chains. As is the case in U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,540, the oligomers produced do not have at least 93% allyl chain ends, an Mn of about 500 to about 20,000 g/mol (as measured by ¹H NMR), and the catalyst has low productivity (1-12,620 g/mmol metallocene/hr; >3000 wppm Al in products).

Similarly, Small and Brookhart (Macromolecules, 32, 1999, pp. 2322) disclose the use of a pyridylbisamido iron catalyst in a low temperature polymerization to produce low molecular weight amorphous propylene materials apparently having predominant or exclusive 2,1 chain growth, chain termination via beta-hydride elimination, and high amounts of vinyl end groups.

Weng et al. (Macromol Rapid Comm. 2000, 21, 1103-1107) discloses materials with up to about 81 percent vinyl termination made using dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl, 4-phenyl-indenyl) zirconium dichloride and methylalumoxane in toluene at about 120° C. The materials have a Mn of about 12,300 (measured with ¹H NMR) and a melting point of about 143° C.

Macromolecules, 33, 2000, 8541-8548) discloses preparation of branch-block ethylene-butene polymer made by reincorporation of vinyl terminated polyethylene, said branch-block polymer made by a combination of Cp₂ZrCL₂ and (C₅Me₄SiMe₂NC₁₂H₂₃)TiCl₂ activated with methylalumoxane.

Moscardi et al. (Organometallics, 20, 2001, pp. 1918) disclose the use of rac-dimethylsilylmethylenebis(3-t-butyl indenyl)zirconium dichloride with methylalumoxane in batch polymerizations of propylene to produce materials where “ . . . allyl end group always prevails over any other end groups, at any [propene].” In these reactions, morphology control was limited and approximately 60% of the chain ends are allylic.

Coates et al. (Macromolecules, 38, 2005, pp. 6259) disclose preparation of low molecular weight syndiotactic polypropylene ([rrrr]=0.46-0.93) with about 100% allyl end groups using bis(phenoxyimine)titanium dichloride ((PHI)₂TiCl₂) activated with modified methyl alumoxane (MMAO; Al/Ti molar ratio=200) in batch polymerizations run between −20 and +20° C. for four hours. For these polymerizations, propylene was dissolved in toluene to create a 1.65 M toluene solution. Catalyst productivity was very low (0.95 to 1.14 g/mmol Ti/hr).

JP 2005-336092 A2 discloses the manufacture of vinyl-terminated propylene polymers using materials such as H₂SO₄ treated montmorillonite, triethylaluminum, triisopropyl aluminum, where the liquid propylene is fed into a catalyst slurry in toluene. This process produces substantially isotactic macromonomers that do not have a significant amount of amorphous material.

Rose et al. (Macromolecules, 41, 2008, pp. 559-567) disclose poly(ethylene-co-propylene) macromonomers not having significant amounts of iso-butyl chain ends. Those were made with bis(phenoxyimine) titanium dichloride ((PHI)₂TiCl₂) activated with modified methylalumoxane (MMAO; Al/Ti molar ratio range 150 to 292) in semi-batch polymerizations (30 psi propylene added to toluene at 0° C. for 30 min, followed by ethylene gas flow at 32 psi of over-pressure at about 0° C. for polymerization times of 2.3 to 4 hours to produce E-P copolymer having an Mn of about 4,800 to 23,300. In four reported copolymerizations, allylic chain ends decreased with increasing ethylene incorporation roughly according to the equation: % allylic chain ends (of total unsaturations)=−0.95(mol % ethylene incorporated)+100. For example, 65% allyl (compared to total unsaturation) was reported for E-P copolymer containing 29 mol % ethylene. This is the highest allyl population achieved. For 64 mol % incorporated ethylene, only 42% of the unsaturations are allylic. Productivity of these polymerizations ranged from 0.78×10² g/mmol Ti/hr to 4.62×10² g/mmol Ti/hr.

Prior to this work, Zhu et al. reported only low (˜38%) vinyl terminated ethylene-propylene copolymer made with the constrained geometry metallocene catalyst [C₅Me₄(SiMe₂N-tert-butyl)TiMe₂ activated with B(C₆F₅)₃ and MMAO (Macromolecules, 35, 2002, pp. 10062-10070 and Macromolecules Rap. Commun., 24, 2003, pp. 311-315).

Janiak and Blank summarize a variety of work related to oligomerization of olefins (Macromol. Symp., 236, 2006, pp. 14-22).

However, higher olefin-based polymerizations to produce vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers are not known. Accordingly, there is a need for new catalysts that produce vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers, particularly in high yields, with a wide range of molecular weight, and with high catalyst activity. Further, there is a need for vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers that have allyl termination present in high amounts, with control over a wide range of molecular weights that can be made at commercial temperatures and which can be made at commercial rates (5,000 g/mmol/hr productivity or more). Further, there is a need for higher olefin polymers having vinyl terminations which can be functionalized and used in additive applications, or as macromonomers for the synthesis of poly(macromonomers).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers having an Mn of at least 200 g/mol (measured by ¹H NMR) comprising of one or more C₄ to C₄₀ higher olefin derived units, where the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units; and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% allyl chain ends relative to total unsaturation. The vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers may optionally comprise ethylene derived units. The higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers preferably do not have isobutyl chain ends. Isobutyl chain ends are determined according to the procedure set out in WO 2009/155471.

This invention also relates to a process for making vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers, wherein the process comprises contacting, under polymerization conditions: one or more C₄ to C₄₀ higher olefins, where substantially no propylene is present; wherein the contacting occurs in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and at least one metallocene compound represented by one of the formulae:

where M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system) each Q is, independently carbon or a heteroatom; each R¹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, R¹ may the same or different as R²; each R² is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R³ is, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided however that at least three R³ groups are not hydrogen; each R⁴ is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; R⁵ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R⁷ is, independently, hydrogen, or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, provided, however, that at least seven R⁷ groups are not hydrogen; R₂ ^(a)T is a bridging group where T is a group 14 element (preferably C, Si, or Ge, preferably Si) and each R^(a) is, independently, hydrogen, halogen, or a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, and two R^(a) can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system; and further provided that any two adjacent R groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated; or (v)

where M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halides, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system); each R⁸ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; each R⁹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group;

each R¹⁰ is hydrogen; each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³, is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; T is a bridging group (such as R₂ ^(a)T as described above); and further provided that any of adjacent R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³ groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated;

or (vi)

wherein M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, or a combination thereof; each R¹⁵ and R¹⁷ are, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; and each R¹⁶, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, and R²⁸ are, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of the NMR spectrum of poly(1-decene), where the 1-decene starting material was isotopically enriched.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventors have surprisingly discovered a new class of vinyl terminated polymers. Described herein are vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers comprising substantially no propylene-derived units, processes to produce such vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers, and compositions comprising vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers. These vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers may find utility as macromonomers for the synthesis of poly(macromonomers), block copolymers, and as additives, for example, as additives to lubricants. Advantageously, the vinyl group of these vinyl terminated polymers provides a path to functionalization. These functionalized polymers may be also useful as additives, such as in lubricants.

As used herein, “molecular weight” means number average molecular weight (Mn), unless otherwise stated.

For the purposes of this invention and the claims thereto, the new numbering scheme for the Periodic Table Groups is used as in CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING NEWS, 63(5), pg. 27 (1985). Therefore, a “Group 4 metal” is an element from Group 4 of the Periodic Table.

“Catalyst activity” is a measure of how many grams of polymer (P) are produced using a polymerization catalyst comprising W g of catalyst (cat), over a period of time of T hours; and may be expressed by the following formula: P/(T'W) and expressed in units of gPgcat⁻hr⁻¹.

An “olefin,” alternatively referred to as “alkene,” is a linear, branched, or cyclic compound of carbon and hydrogen having at least one double bond. For purposes of this specification and the claims appended thereto, when a polymer or copolymer is referred to as comprising an olefin, including, but not limited to ethylene, propylene, and butene, the olefin present in such polymer or copolymer is the polymerized form of the olefin. For example, when a copolymer is said to have an “ethylene” content of 35 wt % to 55 wt %, it is understood that the mer unit in the copolymer is derived from ethylene in the polymerization reaction and said derived units are present at 35 wt % to 55 wt %, based upon the weight of the copolymer. A “polymer” has two or more of the same or different mer units. The term “polymer,” as used herein, includes oligomers (up to 100 mer units), and larger polymers (greater than 100 mer units). A “homopolymer” is a polymer having mer units that are the same. A “copolymer” is a polymer having two or more mer units that are different from each other. A “terpolymer” is a polymer having three mer units that are different from each other. “Different” as used to refer to mer units indicates that the mer units differ from each other by at least one atom or are different isomerically. Accordingly, the definition of copolymer, as used herein, includes terpolymers, and the like.

“Higher olefin,” as used herein, means C₄ to C₄₀ olefins; preferably C₄ to C₃₀ α-olefins; more preferably C₄ to C₂₀ α-olefins; or even more preferably, C₄ to C₁₂ α-olefins. A “higher olefin copolymer” is a polymer comprising two or more different monomer units, at least one of which is a higher olefin. In a preferred embodiment, all monomer units in the polymer are derived from higher olefins.

As used herein, Mn is number average molecular weight (measured by ¹H NMR, unless stated otherwise), Mw is weight average molecular weight (measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography, GPC), and Mz is z average molecular weight (measured by GPC), wt % is weight percent, mol % is mole percent, vol % is volume percent, and mol is mole. Molecular weight distribution (MWD) is defined to be Mw (measured by GPC) divided by Mn (measured by GPC), Mw/Mn. Unless otherwise noted, all molecular weights (e.g., Mw, Mn, Mz) have units of g/mol.

ICPES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry), which is described in J. W. Olesik, “Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy,” in the Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization, C. R. Brundle, C. A. Evans, Jr. and S. Wilson, eds., Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, Mass., 1992, pp. 633-644, is used to determine the amount of an element in a material.

Vinyl Terminated Polymers

Preferred vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers (VT-HO) have an Mn at least 200 g/mol, (preferably 200 to 100,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 75,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 60,000 g/mol, preferably 300 to 60,000 g/mol, or preferably 750 to 30,000 g/mol) (measured by ¹H NMR) comprising of one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof) higher olefin derived units, where the vinyl terminated higher olefin polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units (preferably less than 0.1 wt % propylene, preferably 0 wt %); and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% (at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%; at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) allyl chain ends (relative to total unsaturation); and optionally, an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 1:1 or greater (preferably greater than 2:1, greater than 2.5:1, greater than 3:1, greater than 5:1, or greater than 10:1); and even further optionally, preferably, substantially no isobutyl chain ends (preferably less than 0.1 wt % isobutyl chain ends). In some embodiments, these higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers may comprise ethylene derived units, preferably at least 5 mol % ethylene (preferably at least 15 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 25 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 35 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 45 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 60 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 75 mol % ethylene, or preferably at least 90 mol % ethylene).

The VT-HO polymer may be a homopolymer, a copolymer, a terpolymer, or so on.

VT-HO polymers generally have a saturated chain end (or terminus) and/or an unsaturated chain end, or terminus. The unsaturated chain end of inventive VT-HO polymers comprises an “allyl chain end.” An allyl chain end is represented by CH₂CH—CH₂—, as shown in the formula:

where M represents the polymer chain. “Allylic vinyl group,” “allyl chain end,” “vinyl chain end,” “vinyl termination,” “allylic vinyl group,” and “vinyl terminated” are used interchangeably in the following description.

In some embodiments, the VT-HO polymer has at least 5% allyl chain ends (preferably at least 10% allyl chain ends, at least 15% allyl chain ends, at least 20% allyl chain ends, at least 30% allyl chain ends, at least 40% allyl chain ends, at least 50% allyl chain ends, at least 60% allyl chain ends, at least 70% allyl chain ends; at least 80% allyl chain ends, at least 90% allyl chain ends, or at least 95% allyl chain ends) relative to total unsaturation. The number of allyl chain ends, vinylidene chain ends, vinylene chain ends, and other unsaturated chain ends is determined using ¹H NMR at 120° C. using deuterated tetrachloroethane as the solvent on an at least 250 MHz NMR spectrometer, and in selected cases, confirmed by ¹³C NMR. Resconi has reported proton and carbon assignments (neat perdeuterated tetrachloroethane used for proton spectra, while a 50:50 mixture of normal and perdeuterated tetrachloroethane was used for carbon spectra; all spectra were recorded at 100° C. on a Bruker spectrometer operating at 500 MHz for proton and 125 MHz for carbon) for vinyl terminated oligomers in J. American Chemical Soc., 114, 1992, pp. 1025-1032 that are useful herein. Allyl chain ends are reported as a molar percentage of the total number of moles of unsaturated groups (that is, the sum of allyl chain ends, vinylidene chain ends, vinylene chain ends, and the like).

The “allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio” is defined to be the ratio of the percentage of allyl chain ends to the percentage of vinylidene chain ends. In some embodiments, the allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 1:1 or greater (preferably greater than 2:1, greater than 2.5:1, greater than 3:1, greater than 5:1, or greater than 10:1). In some embodiments, the allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio is in the range of from about 10:1 to about 1:1 (preferably from about 5:1 to about 2:1 or preferably from 10:1 to about 2.5:1).

The “allyl chain end to vinylene chain end ratio” is defined to be the ratio of the percentage of allyl chain ends to the percentage of vinylene chain ends. In some embodiments, the allyl chain end to vinylene ratio is greater than 1:1 (preferably greater than 2:1, or greater than 5:1).

VT-HO polymers typically also have a saturated chain end. In polymerizations without ethylene, the saturated chain end is a higher olefin chain end, as shown in the formula below:

where M represents the polymer chain and n is an integer selected from 4 to 40. In an ethylene/higher olefin copolymerization, the polymer chain may initiate growth in an ethylene monomer, thereby generating a saturated chain end which is an ethyl chain end. VT-HO polymers herein comprise substantially no propylene (preferably less than 0.1 wt %, preferably 0 wt %), and therefore have substantially no isobutyl chain ends (preferably less than 0.1 wt %, preferably 0 wt %). Isobutyl chain ends are determined according to the procedure set out in WO 2009/155471.

The VT-HO polymer may further comprise ethylene derived units. In some embodiments, these VT-HO polymers comprise at least 5 mol % ethylene (preferably at least 15 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 25 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 35 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 45 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 60 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 75 mol % ethylene, or preferably at least 90 mol % ethylene). In other embodiments, the VT-HO polymers comprise from about 1.0 to about 99 mol % of ethylene (from about 10 to about 90 mol %, from about 15 to about 95 mol %, from about 20 to about 85 mol %, from about 25 to about 75 mol %, or from about 30 to about 70 mol %).

In particular embodiments, the VT-HO copolymer has a Mn of greater than 300 g/mol (preferably of in the range from about 300 to about 60,000 g/mol, 400 to 50,000 g/mol, preferably 500 to 35,000 g/mol, preferably 300 to 15,000 g/mol, preferably 400 to 12,000 g/mol, or preferably 750 to 10,000 g/mol), a Mw of 1000 or more (preferably from about 1,000 to about 60400,000 g/mol, preferably from about 2000 to 50300,000 g/mol, preferably from about 3,000 to 35200,000 g/mol), and a Mz of from about 1700 to about 150,000 g/mol, or preferably from about 800 to 100,000 g/mol. Further, a desirable molecular weight range can be any combination of any upper molecular weight limit with any lower molecular weight limit described above. Mn (¹H NMR) is determined according to the NMR method described below in the Examples section. Mn may also be determined using a GPC-DRI method, as described below. For the purpose of the claims, Mn is determined by ¹H NMR.

Mn, Mw, and Mz may be measured by using a Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) method using a High Temperature Size Exclusion Chromatograph (SEC, either from Waters Corporation or Polymer Laboratories), equipped with a differential refractive index detector (DRI). Experimental details, are described in: T. Sun, P. Brant, R. R. Chance, and W. W. Graessley, Macromolecules, Volume 34, Number 19, pp. 6812-6820, (2001) and references therein. Three Polymer Laboratories PLgel 10 mm Mixed-B columns are used. The nominal flow rate is 0.5 cm³/min and the nominal injection volume is 300 μL. The various transfer lines, columns and differential refractometer (the DRI detector) are contained in an oven maintained at 135° C. Solvent for the SEC experiment is prepared by dissolving 6 grams of butylated hydroxy toluene as an antioxidant in 4 liters of Aldrich reagent grade 1,2,4 trichlorobenzene (TCB). The TCB mixture is then filtered through a 0.7 μm glass pre-filter and subsequently through a 0.1 μm Teflon filter. The TCB is then degassed with an online degasser before entering the SEC. Polymer solutions are prepared by placing dry polymer in a glass container, adding the desired amount of TCB, then heating the mixture at 160° C. with continuous agitation for about 2 hours. All quantities are measured gravimetrically. The TCB densities used to express the polymer concentration in mass/volume units are 1.463 g/mL at room temperature and 1.324 g/mL at 135° C. The injection concentration is from 1.0 to 2.0 mg/mL, with lower concentrations being used for higher molecular weight samples. Prior to running each sample the DRI detector and the injector are purged. Flow rate in the apparatus is then increased to 0.5 mL/minute, and the DRI is allowed to stabilize for 8 to 9 hours before injecting the first sample. The concentration, c, at each point in the chromatogram is calculated from the baseline-subtracted DRI signal, I_(DRI), using the following equation: c=K _(DRI) I _(DRI)/(dn/dc) where K_(DRI) is a constant determined by calibrating the DRI, and (dn/dc) is the refractive index increment for the system. The refractive index, n=1.500 for TCB at 135° C. and λ=690 nm. For purposes of this invention and the claims thereto (dn/dc)=0.104 for propylene polymers and 0.1 otherwise. Units of parameters used throughout this description of the SEC method are: concentration is expressed in g/cm³, molecular weight is expressed in g/mol, and intrinsic viscosity is expressed in dL/g.

In a preferred embodiment, the VT-HO polymer comprises less than 3 wt % of functional groups selected from hydroxide, aryls and substituted aryls, halogens, alkoxys, carboxylates, esters, acrylates, oxygen, nitrogen, and carboxyl, preferably less than 2 wt %, more preferably less than 1 wt %, more preferably less than 0.5 wt %, more preferably less than 0.1 wt %, more preferably 0 wt %, based upon the weight of the copolymer.

In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymer comprises at least 50 wt % (preferably at least 75 wt %, preferably at least 90 wt %, based upon the weight of the copolymer composition) olefins having at least 36 carbon atoms (preferably at least 51 carbon atoms, preferably at least 102 carbon atoms) as measured by ¹H NMR, assuming one unsaturation per chain.

In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymer comprises less than 20 wt % dimer and trimer (preferably less than 10 wt %, preferably less than 5 wt %, more preferably less than 2 wt %, based upon the weight of the copolymer composition), as measured by gas chromatography (GC). Products were analyzed by GC (Agilent 6890N with auto-injector) using helium as a carrier gas at 38 cm/sec. A column having a length of 60 m (J & W Scientific DB-1, 60 m×0.25 mm I.D.×1.0 μm film thickness) packed with a flame ionization detector (FID), an Injector temperature of 250° C., and a Detector temperature of 250° C. were used. The sample was injected into the column in an oven at 70° C., then heated to 275° C. over 22 minutes (ramp rate 10° C./min to 100° C., 30° C./min to 275° C., hold). An internal standard, usually the monomer, is used to derive the amount of dimer or trimer product that is obtained. Yields of dimer and trimer product are calculated from the data recorded on the spectrometer. The amount of dimer or trimer product is calculated from the area under the relevant peak on the GC trace, relative to the internal standard.

In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymer contains less than 25 ppm hafnium or zirconium, preferably less than 10 ppm hafnium or zirconium, preferably less than 5 ppm hafnium or zirconium, based on the yield of polymer produced and the mass of catalyst employed. ICPES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry), which is described in J. W. Olesik “Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy,” in the Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization, Brundle et al., Editors, Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, Mass., 1992, pp. 633-644, is used to determine the amount of an atom in a material.

In yet other embodiments, the VT-HO polymer is a liquid at 25° C. In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymer described herein have a viscosity at 60° C. of greater than 1000 cP, greater than 12,000 cP, or greater than 100,000 cP. In other embodiments, the vinyl terminated polymers have a viscosity of less than 200,000 cP, less than 150,000 cP, or less than 100,000 cP. Viscosity is measured using a Brookfield Digital Viscometer.

In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymers described herein preferably have a melting temperature (T_(m), DSC first melt) in the range of from 60 to 150° C., alternately 50 to 100° C. In another embodiment, the copolymers described herein have no detectable melting temperature by DSC following storage at ambient temperature (23° C.) for at least 48 hours. The VT-HO polymer preferably has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 0° C. or less (as determined by differential scanning calorimetry as described below), preferably −10° C. or less, more preferably −20° C. or less, more preferably −30° C. or less, more preferably −50° C. or less. Melting temperature (T_(m)) and glass transition temperature (Tg) are measured using Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) using commercially available equipment such as a TA Instruments 2920 DSC. Typically, 6 to 10 mg of the sample, that has been stored at room temperature for at least 48 hours, is sealed in an aluminum pan and loaded into the instrument at room temperature. The sample is equilibrated at 25° C., then it is cooled at a cooling rate of 10° C./min to −80° C. The sample is held at −80° C. for 5 min and then heated at a heating rate of 10° C./min to 25° C. The glass transition temperature is measured from the heating cycle. Alternatively, the sample is equilibrated at 25° C., then heated at a heating rate of 10° C./min to 150° C. The endothermic melting transition, if present, is analyzed for onset of transition and peak temperature. The melting temperatures reported are the peak melting temperatures from the first heat unless otherwise specified. For samples displaying multiple peaks, the melting point (or melting temperature) is defined to be the peak melting temperature (i.e., associated with the largest endothermic calorimetric response in that range of temperatures) from the DSC melting trace.

In another embodiment, the VT-HO polymers described herein have a viscosity at 60° C. of greater than 1000 cP, greater than 12,000 cP, or greater than 100,000 cP. In other embodiments, the VT-HO polymers have a viscosity of less than 200,000 cP, less than 150,000 cP, or less than 100,000 cP. Viscosity is defined as resistance to flow and the melt viscosity of neat copolymers is measured at elevated temperature using a Brookfield Digital Viscometer.

In some embodiments, the VT-HO polymers are hexene/octene copolymers, hexene/decene copolymers, hexene/dodecene copolymers, octene/decene copolymers, octene/dodecene copolymers, decene/dodecene copolymers, hexene/decene/dodecene terpolymers, hexene/octene/decene terpolymers, octene/decene/dodecene terpolymers, and the like.

In another embodiment, any of the vinyl terminated polyolefins described or useful herein have 3-alkyl vinyl end groups (where the alkyl is a C₁ to C₃₈ alkyl), also referred to as a “3-alkyl chain ends” or a “3-alkyl vinyl termination”, represented by the formula:

3-alkyl vinyl end group

where “••••” represents the polyolefin chain and R^(b) is a C₁ to C₃₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₂₀ alkyl group, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, docecyl, and the like. The amount of 3-alkyl chain ends is determined using ¹³C NMR as set out below.

In a preferred embodiment, any of the vinyl terminated polyolefins described or useful herein have at least 5% 3-alkyl chain ends (preferably at least 10% 3-alkyl chain ends, at least 20% 3-alkyl chain ends, at least 30% 3-alkyl chain ends; at least 40% 3-alkyl chain ends, at least 50% 3-alkyl chain ends, at least 60% 3-alkyl chain ends, at least 70% 3-alkyl chain ends; at least 80%3-alkyl chain ends, at least 90% 3-alkyl chain ends; at least 95% 3-alkyl chain ends, relative to total unsaturation.

In a preferred embodiment, any of the vinyl terminated polyolefins described or useful herein have at least 5% of 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, (e.g., all 3-alkyl chain ends plus all allyl chain ends), preferably at least 10% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 20% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 30% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends; at least 40% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 50% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 60% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 70% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends; at least 80%3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, at least 90% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends; at least 95% 3-alkyl+allyl chain ends, relative to total unsaturation.

Uses of Vinyl Terminated Higher Olefin Polymers

The vinyl terminated polymers prepared herein may be functionalized by reacting a heteroatom containing group with the allyl group of the polymer, with or without a catalyst. Examples include catalytic hydrosilylation, hydroformylation, hydroboration, epoxidation, hydration, dihydroxylation, hydroamination, or maleation with or without activators such as free radical generators (e.g., peroxides).

In some embodiments, the vinyl terminated polymers produced herein are functionalized as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,929; A. Toyota, T. Tsutsui, and N. Kashiwa, Polymer Bulletin 48, pp. 213-219, 2002; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, pp. 7433-7434; and U.S. Ser. No. 12/487,739 filed on Jun. 19, 2009.

The functionalized polymers can be used in oil additivation and many other applications. Preferred uses include additives for lubricants and/or fuels. Preferred heteroatom containing groups include, amines, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, succinic acid, maleic acid, and maleic anhydride.

In particular embodiments herein, the vinyl terminated polymers disclosed herein, or functionalized analogs thereof, are useful as additives. In some embodiments, the vinyl terminated polymers disclosed herein, or functionalized analogs thereof, are useful as additives to a lubricant. Particular embodiments relate to a lubricant comprising the vinyl terminated polymers disclosed herein, or functionalized analogs thereof.

In other embodiments, the vinyl terminated polymers disclosed herein may be used as monomers for the preparation of polymer products. Processes that may be used for the preparation of these polymer products include coordinative polymerization and acid-catalyzed polymerization. In some embodiments, the polymeric products may be homopolymers. For example, if a vinyl terminated polymer (A) were used as a monomer, it is possible to form a homopolymer product with the formulation (A)_(n), where n is the degree of polymerization.

In other embodiments, the polymer products formed from mixtures of monomer vinyl terminated polymers may be mixed polymers, comprising two or more repeating units that are different from each. For example, if a vinyl terminated polymer (A) and a different vinyl terminated polymer (B) were copolymerized, it is possible to form a mixed polymer product with the formulation (A)_(n)(B)_(m), where n is the number of molar equivalents of vinyl terminated polymer (A) and m is the number of molar equivalents of vinyl terminated polymer (B) that are present in the mixed polymer product.

In yet other embodiments, polymer products may be formed from mixtures of the vinyl terminated polymer with another alkene. For example, if a vinyl terminated polymer (A) and alkene (B) were copolymerized, it is possible to form a mixed polymer product with the formulation (A)_(n)(B)_(m), where n is the number of molar equivalents of vinyl terminated polymer and m is the number of molar equivalents of alkene that are present in the mixed polymer product.

In particular embodiments herein, the invention relates to a composition comprising VT-HO polymers having an Mn of at least 200 g/mol, (preferably 200 to 100,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 75,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 60,000 g/mol, preferably 300 to 60,000 g/mol, or preferably 750 to 30,000 g/mol) (measured by ¹H NMR) comprising of one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof) higher olefin derived units, where the vinyl terminated higher olefin polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units (preferably less than 0.1 wt % propylene or preferably 0 wt % propylene); and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% (at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%; at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) allyl chain ends; and optionally, an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 1:1 or greater (preferably greater than 2:1, greater than 2.5:1, greater than 3:1, greater than 5:1, or greater than 10:1); and even further optionally preferably substantially no isobutyl chain ends (preferably less than 0.1 wt % isobutyl chain ends). In some embodiments, these higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers may comprise ethylene derived units, preferably at least 5 mol % ethylene (preferably at least 15 mol % ethylene, at least 25 mol % ethylene, at least 35 mol % ethylene, at least 45 mol % ethylene, at least 60 mol % ethylene, at least 75 mol % ethylene, or at least 90 mol % ethylene).

In some embodiments, the composition is a lubricant blend. In other embodiments, the invention relates to the use of the above compositions as a lubricant blend.

Processes For Making Vinyl Terminated-Higher Olefin Copolymers

This invention also relates to a process for making higher olefin polymers,

wherein the process comprises contacting, one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof) monomers, where substantially no propylene (preferably less than 0.1 wt % propylene, preferably 0 wt % propylene) monomer is present; and optionally, at least 5 mol % ethylene (preferably at least 15 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 25 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 35 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 45 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 60 mol % ethylene, preferably at least 75 mol % ethylene, or preferably at least 90 mol % ethylene), wherein the contacting occurs in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and at least one metallocene compound represented by one of the following formulae:

where M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system) each Q is, independently carbon or a heteroatom; each R¹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, R¹ may the same or different as R²; each R² is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R³ is, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided, however, that at least three R³ groups are not hydrogen; each R⁴ is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; R⁵ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R⁷ is, independently, hydrogen, or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, provided however that at least seven R⁷ groups are not hydrogen; R₂ ^(a)T is a bridging group where T is a group 14 element (preferably C, Si, or Ge, preferably Si) and each R^(a) is, independently, hydrogen, halogen or a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, and two R^(a) can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system; and further provided that any two adjacent R groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated; or (v)

where M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halides, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system); each R⁸ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; each R⁹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; each R¹⁰ is hydrogen; each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³, is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; T is a bridging group (such as R₂ ^(a)T described above); and further provided that any of adjacent R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³ groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated; or (vi)

wherein M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, or a combination thereof; each R¹⁵ and R¹⁷ are, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; and each R¹⁶, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, and R²⁸ are, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

Generally, to make the vinyl terminated VT-HO polymers described herein, higher olefin monomers (such as hexene or octene) are polymerized by contacting: one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof); wherein the contacting occurs in the presence of a catalyst system (comprising one or more metallocene compounds, and one or more activators, described below). Other additives may also be used, as desired, such as one or more scavengers, promoters, modifiers, reducing agents, oxidizing agents, hydrogen, aluminum alkyls, or silanes. In a preferred embodiment, little or no scavenger is used in the process to produce the VT-HO copolymers. Preferably, scavenger is present at zero mol %, alternately the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100:1, preferably less than 50:1, preferably less than 15:1, preferably less than 10:1.

The higher olefin monomers may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The higher olefin cyclic olefins may be strained or unstrained, monocyclic or polycyclic, and may optionally include hetero atoms and/or one or more functional groups. Exemplary higher olefin monomers include butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof (preferably hexane, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene, cyclooctene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene, 1-hydroxy-4-cyclooctene, 1-acetoxy-4-cyclooctene, 5-methylcyclopentene, cyclopentene, dicyclopentadiene, norbornene, norbornadiene, and their respective homologs and derivatives, preferably norbornene, norbornadiene, and dicyclopentadiene), as shown below.

In some embodiments, where butene is the comonomer, the butene source may be a mixed butene stream comprising various isomers of butene. The 1-butene monomers are expected to be preferentially consumed by the polymerization process. Use of such mixed butene streams will provide an economic benefit, as these mixed streams are often waste streams from refining processes, for example C₄ raffinate streams, and can therefore be substantially less expensive than pure 1-butene.

Processes of this invention can be carried out in any manner known in the art. Any suspension, homogeneous bulk, solution, slurry, or gas phase polymerization process known in the art can be used. Such processes can be run in a batch, semi-batch, or continuous mode. Such processes and modes are well known in the art. Homogeneous polymerization processes and slurry are preferred. (A homogeneous polymerization process is defined to be a process where at least 90 wt % of the product is soluble in the reaction media.) A bulk homogeneous process is particularly preferred. (A bulk process is defined to be a process where monomer concentration in all feeds to the reactor is 70 vol % or more.) Alternately, no solvent or diluent is present or added in the reaction medium, (except for the small amounts used as the carrier for the catalyst system or other additives, or amounts typically found with the monomer; e.g., propane in propylene).

Suitable diluents/solvents for polymerization include non-coordinating, inert liquids. Examples include straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof such as can be found commercially (Isopar™); perhalogenated hydrocarbons such as perfluorinated C₄₋₁₀ alkanes, chlorobenzene, and aromatic and alkylsubstituted aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, mesitylene, and xylene. Suitable solvents also include liquid olefins which may act as monomers or comonomers including ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene, and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents are used as the solvent, such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the solvent is not aromatic, preferably aromatics are present in the solvent at less than 1 wt %, preferably at 0.5 wt %, preferably at 0 wt % based upon the weight of the solvents.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed concentration for the polymerization is 60 vol % solvent or less, preferably 40 vol % or less, or preferably 20 vol % or less, based on the total volume of the feedstream. Preferably the polymerization is run in a bulk process.

“Catalyst productivity” is a measure of how many grams of polymer (P) are produced using a polymerization catalyst comprising W g of catalyst (cat), over a period of time of T hours; and may be expressed by the following formula: P/(T×W) and expressed in units of gPgcat⁻¹hr⁻¹. Conversion is the amount of monomer that is converted to polymer product, and is reported as mol % and is calculated based on the polymer yield and the amount of monomer fed into the reactor. Catalyst activity is a measure of how active the catalyst is and is reported as the mass of product polymer (P) produced per mole of catalyst (cat) used (kgP/molcat).

In an alternate embodiment, the activity of the catalyst is at least 50 g/mmol/hour, preferably 500 or more g/mmol/hour, preferably 5000 or more g/mmol/hr, preferably 50,000 or more g/mmol/hr. In an alternate embodiment, the conversion of olefin monomer is at least 10%, based upon polymer yield and the weight of the monomer entering the reaction zone, preferably 20% or more, preferably 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, preferably 80% or more.

In some embodiments, the productivity is 4500 g/mmol/hour or more, preferably 5000 g/mmol/hour or more, preferably 10,000 g/mmol/hr or more, preferably 50,000 g/mmol/hr or more. In other embodiments, the productivity is at least 80,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 150,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 200,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 250,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 300,000 g/mmol/hr.

Preferred polymerizations can be run at any temperature and/or pressure suitable to obtain the desired VT-HO polymers. The polymerization may be run at any suitable temperature, such as at a temperature in the range of from about 0 to 250° C., preferably from 15 to 200° C., preferably from 23 to 120° C.; and at any suitable pressure, preferable pressures may be in the range of from about 0.35 to 10 MPa, preferably from 0.45 to 6 MPa, or preferably from 0.5 to 4 MPa.

In a typical polymerization, the run time of the reaction is up to 300 minutes, preferably in the range of from about 5 to 250 minutes, or preferably from about 10 to 120 minutes.

In a preferred embodiment hydrogen is present in the polymerization reactor at a partial pressure of 0.001 to 50 psig (0.007 to 345 kPa), preferably from 0.01 to 25 psig (0.07 to 172 kPa), more preferably 0.1 to 10 psig (0.7 to 70 kPa). It has been found that in the present systems, hydrogen can be used to provide increased activity without significantly impairing the catalyst's ability to produce allylic chain ends. Preferably the catalyst activity (calculated as g/mmol catalyst/hr) is at least 20% higher than the same reaction without hydrogen present, preferably at least 50% higher, preferably at least 100% higher.

In a preferred embodiment, the polymerization: 1) is conducted at temperatures of 0 to 300° C. (preferably 25 to 150° C., preferably 40 to 120° C., preferably 45 to 80° C.); 2) is conducted at a pressure of atmospheric pressure to 10 MPa (preferably 0.35 to 10 MPa, preferably from 0.45 to 6 MPa, preferably from 0.5 to 4 MPa); 3) is conducted in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof; preferably where aromatics are present in the solvent at less than 1 wt %, preferably at less than 0.5 wt %, preferably at 0 wt % based upon the weight of the solvents); 4) wherein the catalyst system used in the polymerization comprises less than 0.5 mol %, preferably 0 mol % alumoxane, alternately the alumoxane is present at a molar ratio of aluminum to transition metal less than 500:1, preferably less than 300:1, preferably less than 100:1, preferably less than 1:1); 5) the polymerization occurs in one reaction zone; 6) the productivity of the catalyst compound is at least 80,000 g/mmol/hr (preferably at least 150,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 200,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 250,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 300,000 g/mmol/hr); 7) optionally scavengers (such as trialkyl aluminum compounds) are absent (e.g., present at zero mole %, alternately the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100:1, preferably less than 50:1, preferably less than 15:1, preferably less than 10:1); and 8) optionally hydrogen is present in the polymerization reactor at a partial pressure of 0.001 to 50 psig (0.007 to 345 kPa) (preferably from 0.01 to 25 psig (0.07 to 172 kPa), more preferably 0.1 to 10 psig (0.7 to 70 kPa)). In preferred embodiment, the catalyst system used in the polymerization comprises no more than one catalyst compound. A “reaction zone” also referred to as a “polymerization zone” is a vessel where polymerization takes place, for example a batch reactor. When multiple reactors are used in either series or parallel configuration, each reactor is considered as a separate polymerization zone. For a multi-stage polymerization in both a batch reactor and a continuous reactor, each polymerization stage is considered as a separate polymerization zone. In a preferred embodiment, the polymerization occurs in one reaction zone. Room temperature is 23° C. unless otherwise noted.

Catalyst Systems

In embodiments herein, the invention relates to a process for making higher olefin polymers, wherein the process comprises contacting the higher olefin monomers in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and at least one metallocene compound, as shown below.

In the description herein, the metallocene catalyst may be described as a catalyst precursor, a pre-catalyst compound, or a transition metal compound, and these terms are used interchangeably. A polymerization catalyst system is a catalyst system that can polymerize monomers to polymer. A “catalyst system” is combination of at least one catalyst compound, at least one activator, an optional co-activator, and an optional support material. An “anionic ligand” is a negatively charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion. A “neutral donor ligand” is a neutrally charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion.

For the purposes of this invention and the claims thereto, when catalyst systems are described as comprising neutral stable forms of the components, it is well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, that the ionic form of the component is the form that reacts with the monomers to produce polymers.

A metallocene catalyst is defined as an organometallic compound with at least one π-bound cyclopentadienyl moiety (or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety) and more frequently two π-bound cyclopentadienyl-moieties or substituted moieties. This includes other π-bound moieties such as indenyls or fluorenyls or derivatives thereof.

The metallocene, activator, optional co-activator, and optional support components of the catalyst system are discussed below.

(a) Metallocene Component

The term “substituted” means that a hydrogen group has been replaced with a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group. For example, methyl cyclopentadiene (Cp) is a Cp group substituted with a methyl group, ethyl alcohol is an ethyl group substituted with an —OH group, and a “substituted hydrocarbyl” is a radical made of carbon and hydrogen where at least one hydrogen is replaced by a heteroatom.

For purposes of this invention and claims thereto, “alkoxides” include those where the alkyl group is a C₁ to C₁₀ hydrocarbyl. The alkyl group may be straight chain, branched, or cyclic. The alkyl group may be saturated or unsaturated. In some embodiments, the alkyl group may comprise at least one aromatic group.

The metallocene component of the catalyst system is represented by at least one of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, or VI.

(i) Formulae I, II, III, and IV

In some embodiments, the metallocene compound is represented by at least one of Formulae I, II, III, and IV.

where M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, or a combination thereof; preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, benzyl, chloride, bromide, iodide, (alternately two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system); each Q is, independently carbon or a heteroatom, preferably C, N, P, S (preferably at least one Q is a heteroatom, alternately at least two Q's are the same or different heteroatoms, alternately at least three Q's are the same or different heteroatoms, alternately at least four Q's are the same or different heteroatoms); each R¹ is, independently, hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl, R¹ may the same or different as R²; each R² is, independently, hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl, provided that at least one of R¹ or R² is not hydrogen, preferably both of R¹ and R² are not hydrogen, preferably R¹ and/or R² are not branched; each R³ is, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, provided however that at least three R³ groups are not hydrogen (alternately four R³ groups are not hydrogen, alternately five R³ groups are not hydrogen); each R⁴ is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, substituted phenyl (such as propyl phenyl), phenyl, silyl, substituted silyl, (such as CH₂SiR′, where R′ is a C₁ to C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl); R⁵ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl; each R⁷ is, independently, hydrogen, or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl, provided however that at least seven R⁷ groups are not hydrogen, alternately at least eight R⁷ groups are not hydrogen, alternately all R⁷ groups are not hydrogen, (preferably the R⁷ groups at the 3 and 4 positions on each Cp ring of Formula IV are not hydrogen); R₂ ^(a)T is a bridging group, preferably T comprises C, Si, or Ge, preferably Si; each R^(a) is, independently, hydrogen, halogen or a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, phenyl, benzyl, substituted phenyl, and two R^(a) can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system; and further provided that any two adjacent R groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated.

In an alternate embodiment, at least one R⁴ group is not hydrogen, alternately at least two R⁴ groups are not hydrogen, alternately at least three R⁴ groups are not hydrogen, alternately at least four R⁴ groups are not hydrogen, alternately all R⁴ groups are not hydrogen.

In some embodiments, the bridging group T includes bridging groups containing at least one Group 13 to 16 atom, often referred to as a divalent moiety, such as, but not limited to, at least one of a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, silicon, aluminum, boron, germanium and tin atom, or a combination thereof. Preferably, bridging group T contains a carbon, silicon or germanium atom, most preferably, T contains at least one silicon atom or at least one carbon atom. The bridging group T may also contain substituent groups R* as defined below including halogens and iron.

Non-limiting examples of substituent groups R* include one or more from the group selected from hydrogen, or linear, or branched alkyl radicals, alkenyl radicals, alkynyl radicals, cycloalkyl radicals, aryl radicals, acyl radicals, aryl radicals, alkoxy radicals, aryloxy radicals, alkylthio radicals, dialkylamino radicals, alkoxycarbonyl radicals, aryloxycarbonyl radicals, carbomoyl radicals, alkyl- or dialkyl-carbamoyl radicals, acyloxy radicals, acylamino radicals, arylamino radicals, or combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, substituent groups R* have up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms, preferably from 1 to 30 carbon, that may also be substituted with halogens or heteroatoms, or the like. Non-limiting examples of alkyl substituents R* include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl or phenyl groups, and the like, including all their isomers, for example tertiary butyl, isopropyl, and the like. Other hydrocarbyl radicals include fluoromethyl, fluoroethyl, difluoroethyl, iodopropyl, bromohexyl, chlorobenzyl, and hydrocarbyl substituted organometalloid radicals including trimethylsilyl, trimethylgermyl, methyldiethylsilyl, and the like; and halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid radicals including tris(trifluoromethyl)silyl, methyl-bis(difluoromethyl)silyl, bromomethyldimethylgermyl, and the like; and disubstituted boron radicals including dimethylboron, for example; and disubstituted pnictogen radicals including dimethylamine, dimethylphosphine, diphenylamine, methylphenylphosphine, chalcogen radicals including methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, phenoxy, methylsulfide, and ethylsulfide. Non-hydrogen substituents R* include the atoms carbon, silicon, boron, aluminum, nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen, tin, sulfur, germanium, and the like, including olefins, such as, but not limited to, olefinically unsaturated substituents including vinyl-terminated ligands, for example, but-3-enyl, prop-2-enyl, hex-5-enyl, and the like. Also, in some embodiments, at least two R* groups, preferably two adjacent R groups, are joined to form a ring structure having from 3 to 30 atoms selected from carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, silicon, germanium, aluminum, boron, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, R* may also be a diradical bonded to L at one end and forming a carbon sigma bond to the metal M. Particularly preferred R* substituent groups include a C₁ to C₃₀ hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group (preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl (including isopropyl, sec-propyl), butyl (including t-butyl and sec-butyl), neopentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl (including substituted benzyl), cyclohexyl, cyclododecyl, norbornyl, and all isomers thereof.

Examples of bridging group R₂ ^(a)T in Formula III or T in Formula V useful herein may be represented by R′₂C, R′₂Si, R′₂Ge, R′₂CCR′₂, R′₂CCR′₂CR′₂, R′₂CCR′₂CR′₂CR′₂, R′C═CR′, R′C═CR′CR′₂, R′₂CCR′═CR′CR′₂, R′C═CR′CR′═CR′, R′C═CR′CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂CSiR′₂, R′₂SiSiR′₂, R₂CSiR′₂CR′₂, R′₂SiCR′₂SiR′₂, R′C═CR′SiR′₂, R′₂CGeR′₂, R′₂GeGeR′₂, R′₂CGeR′₂CR′₂, R′₂GeCR′₂GeR′₂, R′₂SiGeR′₂, R′C═CR′GeR′₂, R′B, R′₂C—BR′, R′₂C—BR′—CR′₂, R′₂C—O—CR′₂, R′₂CR′₂C—O—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—O—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—O—CR′═CR′, R′₂C—S—CR′₂, R′₂CR′₂C—S—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—S—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—S—CR′═CR′, R′₂C—Se—CR′₂, R′₂CR′₂C—Se—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—Se—CR₂CR′₂, R′₂C—Se—CR′═CR′, R′₂C—N═CR′, R′₂C—NR′—CR′₂, R′₂C—NR′—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—NR′—CR′═CR′, R′₂CR′₂C—NR′—CR′₂CR′₂, R′₂C—P═CR′, and R′₂C—PR′—CR′₂ where R′ is hydrogen, or a C₁-C₂₀ containing hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, silylcarbyl or germylcarbyl substituent and optionally two or more adjacent R′ may join to form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic, cyclic or polycyclic substituent. Preferably, the bridging group comprises carbon or silica, such as dialkylsilyl, preferably the bridging group is selected from CH₂, CH₂CH₂, C(CH₃)₂, SiMe₂, SiPh₂, SiMePh, silylcyclobutyl (Si(CH₂)₃, (Ph)₂C, (p-(Et)₃SiPh)₂C and silylcyclopentyl (Si(CH₂)₄).

Catalyst compounds that are particularly useful in this invention include one or more of:

-   (1,3-dimethylindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3,4,7-tetramethylindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3-dimethylindenyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3-diethylindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3-dipropylindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1-methyl,3-propyllindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3-dimethylindenyl)(tetramethylpropylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,2,3-trimethylindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (1,3-dimethylbenzindenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (2,7-bis     t-butylfluorenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   (9-methylfluorenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hathiumdimethyl, -   (2,7,9-trimethylfluorenyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   dihydrosilylbis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)hathiumdimethyl, -   dihydrosilylbis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   dimethylsilyktetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(3-propyltrimethylcyclopentadienyl) -   hafniumdimethyl, and     dicyclopropylsilylbis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)hafniumdimethyl.

In an alternate embodiment, the “dimethyl” after the transition metal in the list of catalyst compounds above is replaced with a dihalide (such as dichloride or difluoride) or a bisphenoxide, particularly for use with an alumoxane activator.

(ii) Formula V

In some embodiments, the metallocene may be represented by Formula V, below.

where M is hafnium or zirconium, preferably hathium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halides, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system); preferably each X is independently selected from halides and C₁ to C₆ hydrocarbyl groups, preferably each X is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, benzyl, chloride, bromide, or iodide; each R⁸ is, independently, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, or isomers thereof; preferably methyl, n-propyl, or n-butyl, or preferably methyl; each R⁹ is, independently, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, or isomers thereof; preferably methyl, n-propyl, or butyl, or preferably n-propyl; each R¹⁰ is hydrogen; each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³, is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; preferably each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³, is hydrogen; T is a bridging group represented by the formula R₂ ^(a)J where J is C, Si, or Ge, preferably Si; each R^(a) is, independently, hydrogen, halogen or a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, phenyl, benzyl, substituted phenyl, and two R^(a) can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic, or fused ring system; further provided that any two adjacent R groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated. T may also be a bridging group as defined above; and further provided that any of adjacent R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³ groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated.

Metallocene compounds that are particularly useful in this invention include one or more of:

-   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-ethyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl; -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-ethyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-ethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-ethylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-isopropylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-isopropylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-butyllindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl, 3-butylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-ethyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-ethyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-ethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-ethylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl     bis(2-methyl,3-isopropylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl     bis(2-methyl,3-isopropylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-butyllindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-propyl,3-methylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-propyl,3-ethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilylbis(2-propyl,3-butylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2-methyl,3-butylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylgermanyl bis(2,3-dimethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2,3-dimethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl, and -   rac-dimethylsilyl bis(2,3-diethylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl.

In an alternate embodiment, the “dimethyl” after the transition metal in the list of catalyst compounds above is replaced with a dihalide (such as dichloride or difluoride) or a bisphenoxide, particularly for use with an alumoxane activator.

In particular embodiments, the metallocene compound is rac-dimethylsilylbis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdimethyl (V-I), rac-dimethylsilylbis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)zirconiumdimethyl (V-II), represented by the formulae below:

(iii) Formula VI

In some embodiments, the metallocene may be represented by Formula VI, below.

wherein M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, or a combination thereof; each R¹⁵ and R¹⁷ are, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; preferably a C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl, R¹⁵ may be the same or different as R¹⁷, and preferably are both methyl; and each R¹⁶, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, and R²⁸ are, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₈ linear alkyl group, preferably methyl ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, provided however that at least three of R²⁴-R²⁸ groups are not hydrogen (alternately four of R²⁴-R²⁸ groups are not hydrogen, alternately five of R²⁴-R²⁸ groups are not hydrogen). Preferably all five groups of R²⁴-R²⁸ are methyl, and/or four of the R²⁴-R²⁸ groups are not hydrogen and at least one of the R²⁴-R²⁸ groups is a C₂ to C₈ substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl (preferably at least two, three, four or five of R²⁴-R²⁸ groups are a C₂ to C₈ substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl).

In one embodiment, R¹⁵ and R¹⁷ are methyl groups, R¹⁶ is a hydrogen, R¹⁸-R²³ are all hydrogens, R²⁴-R²⁸ are all methyl groups, and each X is a methyl group. Catalyst compounds that are particularly useful in this invention include:

-   (CpMe₅)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-methyl-3-n-propylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-n-propyl,3-methylbenz[e] indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-methyl-3-n-butylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-n-butyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-ethyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₅)(1-methyl, 3-ethylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-propyl)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl)(1-methyl-3-n-propylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl) (1-n-propyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl)(1-methyl-3-n-butylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl)(1-n-butyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl) (1-ethyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄-n-propyl)(1-methyl, 3-ethylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-methyl-3-n-propylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-n-propyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-methyl-3-n-butylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-n-butyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-ethyl,3-methylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, -   (CpMe₄n-butyl)(1-methyl, 3-ethylbenz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂, and the     zirconium analogs thereof.

In an alternate embodiment, the “dimethyl” (Me₂) after the transition metal in the list of catalyst compounds above is replaced with a dihalide (such as dichloride or difluoride) or a bisphenoxide, particularly for use with an alumoxane activator.

(b) Activator Component of Catalyst System

The terms “cocatalyst” and “activator” are used herein interchangeably and are defined to be any compound which can activate any one of the catalyst compounds described above by converting the neutral catalyst compound to a catalytically active catalyst compound cation. Non-limiting activators, for example, include alumoxanes, aluminum alkyls, ionizing activators, which may be neutral or ionic, and conventional-type cocatalysts. Preferred activators typically include alumoxane compounds, modified alumoxane compounds, and ionizing anion precursor compounds that abstract one reactive, σ-bound, metal ligand making the metal complex cationic and providing a charge-balancing noncoordinating or weakly coordinating anion.

In one embodiment, alumoxane activators are utilized as an activator in the catalyst composition. Alumoxanes are generally oligomeric compounds containing —Al(R¹)—O— sub-units, where R¹ is an alkyl group. Examples of alumoxanes include methylalumoxane (MAO), modified methylalumoxane (MMAO), ethylalumoxane and isobutylalumoxane. Alkylalumoxanes and modified alkylalumoxanes are suitable as catalyst activators, particularly when the abstractable ligand is an alkyl, halide, alkoxide, or amide. Mixtures of different alumoxanes and modified alumoxanes may also be used. It may be preferable to use a visually clear methylalumoxane. A cloudy or gelled alumoxane can be filtered to produce a clear solution or clear alumoxane can be decanted from the cloudy solution. Another alumoxane is a modified methyl alumoxane (MMAO) cocatalyst type 3A (commercially available from Akzo Chemicals, Inc. under the trade name Modified Methylalumoxane type 3A, covered under U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,584).

When the activator is an alumoxane (modified or unmodified), some embodiments select the maximum amount of activator at a 5000-fold molar excess Al/M over the catalyst precursor (per metal catalytic site). The minimum activator-to-catalyst-precursor is a 1:1 molar ratio. Alternate preferred ranges include up to 500:1, alternately up to 200:1, alternately up to 100:1 alternately from 1:1 to 50:1. In a preferred embodiment, little or no alumoxane is used in the process to produce the VT-HO polymers. Preferably, alumoxane is present at zero mol %, alternately the alumoxane is present at a molar ratio of aluminum to transition metal less than 500:1, preferably less than 300:1, preferably less than 100:1, preferably less than 1:1. In an alternate embodiment, if an alumoxane is used to produce the VTM's then, the alumoxane has been treated to remove free alkyl aluminum compounds, particularly trimethyl aluminum. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the activator used herein to produce the VT-HO polymers is discrete.

Aluminum alkyl or organoaluminum compounds which may be utilized as co-activators (or scavengers) include trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, little or no scavenger is used in the process to produce the VT-HO polymers Preferably, scavenger is present at zero mol %, alternately the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100:1, preferably less than 50:1, preferably less than 15:1, preferably less than 10:1.

Ionizing Activators

It is within the scope of this invention to use an ionizing or stoichiometric activator, neutral or ionic, such as tri (n-butyl) ammonium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate, a tris perfluorophenyl boron metalloid precursor, or a tris perfluoronapthyl boron metalloid precursor, polyhalogenated heteroborane anions (WO 98/43983), boric acid (U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,459), or combination thereof. It is also within the scope of this invention to use neutral or ionic activators alone or in combination with alumoxane or modified alumoxane activators. Much preferred activators are the ionic ones, not the neutral boranes.

Examples of neutral stoichiometric activators include tri-substituted boron, tellurium, aluminum, gallium and indium or mixtures thereof. The three substituent groups are each independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, halogens, substituted alkyls, aryls, arylhalides, alkoxy, and halides. Preferably, the three groups are independently selected from halogen, mono or multicyclic (including halosubstituted) aryls, alkyls, and alkenyl compounds, and mixtures thereof, preferred are alkenyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and aryl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms (including substituted aryls). More preferably, the three groups are alkyls having 1 to 4 carbon groups, phenyl, napthyl, or mixtures thereof. Even more preferably, the three groups are halogenated, preferably fluorinated, aryl groups. Most preferably, the neutral stoichiometric activator is tris perfluorophenyl boron or tris perfluoronapthyl boron.

Ionic stoichiometric activator compounds may contain an active proton, or some other cation associated with, but not coordinated to, or only loosely coordinated to, the remaining ion of the ionizing compound. Such compounds and the like are described in European publications EP 0 570 982 A; EP 0 520 732 A; EP 0 495 375 A; EP 0 500 944 B1; EP 0 277 003 A; EP 0 277 004 A; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,153,157; 5,198,401; 5,066,741; 5,206,197; 5,241,025; 5,384,299; 5,502,124; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/285,380, filed Aug. 3, 1994; all of which are herein fully incorporated by reference.

Ionic catalysts can be preparedly reacting a transition metal compound with some neutral Lewis acids, such as B(C₆F₆)₃, which upon reaction with the hydrolyzable ligand (X) of the transition metal compound forms an anion, such as ([B(C₆F₅)₃(X)]⁻), which stabilizes the cationic transition metal species generated by the reaction. The catalysts can be, and preferably are, prepared with activator components which are ionic compounds or compositions.

Compounds useful as an activator component in the preparation of the ionic catalyst systems used in the process of this invention comprise a cation, which is preferably a Bronsted acid capable of donating a proton, and a compatible non-coordinating anion which anion is relatively large (bulky), capable of stabilizing the active catalyst species (the Group 4 cation) which is formed when the two compounds are combined and said anion will be sufficiently labile to be displaced by olefinic, diolefinic and acetylenically unsaturated substrates or other neutral Lewis bases, such as ethers, amines, and the like. Two classes of compatible non-coordinating anions have been disclosed in EP 0 277,003 A and EP 0 277,004 A, published 1988: 1) anionic coordination complexes comprising a plurality of lipophilic radicals covalently coordinated to and shielding a central charge-bearing metal or metalloid core, and 2) anions comprising a plurality of boron atoms, such as carboranes, metallacarboranes, and boranes.

In a preferred embodiment, the stoichiometric activators include a cation and an anion component, and may be represented by the following formula: (L-H)_(d) ⁺(A^(d−))  (14) wherein L is an neutral Lewis base; H is hydrogen; (L-H)⁺ is a Bronsted acid; A^(d−) is a non-coordinating anion having the charge d−; and d is 1, 2, or 3.

The cation component, (L-H)_(d) ⁺ may include Bronsted acids such as protonated Lewis bases capable of protonating a moiety, such as an alkyl or aryl, from the bulky ligand metallocene containing transition metal catalyst precursor, resulting in a cationic transition metal species.

The activating cation (L-H)_(d) ⁺ may be a Bronsted acid, capable of donating a proton to the transition metal catalytic precursor resulting in a transition metal cation, including ammoniums, oxoniums, phosphoniums, silyliums, and mixtures thereof, preferably ammoniums of methylamine, aniline, dimethylamine, diethylamine, N-methylaniline, diphenylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, methyldiphenylamine, pyridine, p-bromo N,N-dimethylaniline, p-nitro-N,N-dimethylaniline, phosphoniums from triethylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, and diphenylphosphine, oxoniums from ethers, such as dimethyl ether diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane, sulfoniums from thioethers, such as diethyl thioethers and tetrahydrothiophene, and mixtures thereof.

The anion component A^(d−) include those having the formula [M^(k+)Q_(n)]^(d−) wherein k is 1, 2, or 3; n is an integer from 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; n−k=d; M is an element selected from Group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, preferably boron or aluminum, and Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, and halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radicals, said Q having up to 20 carbon atoms with the proviso that in not more than 1 occurrence is Q a halide. Preferably, each Q is a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably each Q is a fluorinated aryl group, and most preferably each Q is a pentafluoryl aryl group. Examples of suitable A^(d−) also include diboron compounds as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,895, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

Illustrative, but not limiting examples of boron compounds which may be used as an activating cocatalyst in the preparation of the catalyst system of the processes of this invention are tri-substituted ammonium salts, such as: trimethylammonium tetraphenylborate, triethylammonium tetraphenylborate, tripropylammonium tetraphenylborate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetraphenylborate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetraphenylborate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetraphenylborate, tropillium tetraphenylborate, triphenylcarbenium tetraphenylborate, triphenylphosphonium tetraphenylborate triethylsilylium tetraphenylborate, benzene(diazonium)tetraphenylborate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri(sec-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate, triethylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluoro-phenyl)borate, dimethyl(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, and dialkyl ammonium salts such as: di-(1-propyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and dicyclohexylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; and additional tri-substituted phosphonium salts such as tri(o-tolyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and tri(2,6-dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

Most preferably, the ionic stoichiometric activator (L-H)_(d) ⁺ (A^(d−)) is, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, or triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)borate.

In one embodiment, an activation method using ionizing ionic compounds not containing an active proton but capable of producing a bulky ligand metallocene catalyst cation and their non-coordinating anion are also contemplated, and are described in EP 0 426 637 A, EP 0 573 403 A, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,568, which are all herein incorporated by reference.

The term “non-coordinating anion” (NCA) means an anion which either does not coordinate to said cation or which is only weakly coordinated to said cation thereby remaining sufficiently labile to be displaced by a neutral Lewis base. “Compatible” non-coordinating anions are those which are not degraded to neutrality when the initially formed complex decomposes. Further, the anion will not transfer an anionic substituent or fragment to the cation so as to cause it to form a neutral four coordinate metallocene compound and a neutral by-product from the anion. Non-coordinating anions useful in accordance with this invention are those that are compatible, stabilize the metallocene cation in the sense of balancing its ionic charge at +1, yet retain sufficient lability to permit displacement by an ethylenically or acetylenically unsaturated monomer during polymerization. In addition to these activator compounds or co-catalysts, scavengers are used such as tri-isobutyl aluminum or tri-octyl aluminum.

Inventive processes also can employ cocatalyst compounds or activator compounds that are initially neutral Lewis acids but form a cationic metal complex and a noncoordinating anion, or a zwitterionic complex upon reaction with the invention compounds. For example, tris(pentafluorophenyl) boron or aluminum act to abstract a hydrocarbyl or hydride ligand to yield an invention cationic metal complex and stabilizing noncoordinating anion, see EP 0 427 697 A and EP 0 520 732 A for illustrations of analogous Group-4 metallocene compounds. Also, see the methods and compounds of EP 0 495 375 A. For formation of zwitterionic complexes using analogous Group 4 compounds, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,624,878; 5,486,632; and 5,527,929.

Another suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a salt of a cationic oxidizing agent and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula: (OX^(e+))_(d)(A^(d−))_(e)  (16) wherein OX^(e+) is a cationic oxidizing agent having a charge of e+; e is 1, 2, or 3; A^(d−) is a non-coordinating anion having the charge d−; and d is 1, 2, or 3.

Examples of cationic oxidizing agents include: ferrocenium, hydrocarbyl-substituted ferrocenium, Ag⁺, or Pb⁺². Preferred embodiments of A^(d−) are those anions previously defined with respect to the Bronsted acid containing activators, especially tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

The typical NCA(or any non-alumoxane activator) activator-to-catalyst ratio is a 1:1 molar ratio. Alternate preferred ranges include from 0.1:1 to 100:1, alternately from 0.5:1 to 200:1, alternately from 1:1 to 500:1 alternately from 1:1 to 1000:1. A particularly useful range is from 0.5:1 to 10:1, preferably 1:1 to 5:1.

Bulky Activators

“Bulky activator” as used herein refers to anionic activators represented by the formula:

where: each R₁ is, independently, a halide, preferably a fluoride; each R₂ is, independently, a halide, a C₆ to C₂₀ substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group or a siloxy group of the formula —O—S₁—R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group (preferably R₂ is a fluoride or a perfluorinated phenyl group); each R₃ is a halide, C₆ to C₂₀ substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group or a siloxy group of the formula —I—S₁—R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group (preferably R₃ is a fluoride or a C₆ perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbyl group); wherein R₂ and R₃ can form one or more saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted rings (preferably R₂ and R₃ form a perfluorinated phenyl ring); L is an neutral Lewis base; (L-H)⁺ is a Bronsted acid; d is 1, 2, or 3; wherein the anion has a molecular weight of greater than 1020 g/mole; and wherein at least three of the substituents on the B atom each have a molecular volume of greater than 250 cubic Å, alternately greater than 300 cubic Å, or alternately greater than 500 cubic Å.

“Molecular volume” is used herein as an approximation of spatial steric bulk of an activator molecule in solution. Comparison of substituents with differing molecular volumes allows the substituent with the smaller molecular volume to be considered “less bulky” in comparison to the substituent with the larger molecular volume. Conversely, a substituent with a larger molecular volume may be considered “more bulky” than a substituent with a smaller molecular volume.

Molecular volume may be calculated as reported in “A Simple “Back of the Envelope” Method for Estimating the Densities and Molecular Volumes of Liquids and Solids,” Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 71, No. 11, November 1994, pp. 962-964. Molecular volume (MV), in units of cubic Å, is calculated using the formula: MV=8.3V_(s), where V_(s) is the scaled volume. V_(s) is the sum of the relative volumes of the constituent atoms, and is calculated from the molecular formula of the substituent using the following table of relative volumes. For fused rings, the V_(s) is decreased by 7.5% per fused ring.

Element Relative Volume H 1 1^(st) short period, Li to F 2 2^(nd) short period, Na to Cl 4 1^(st) long period, K to Br 5 2^(nd) long period, Rb to I 7.5 3^(rd) long period, Cs to Bi 9

Exemplary bulky substituents of activators suitable herein and their respective scaled volumes and molecular volumes are shown in the table below. The dashed bonds indicate binding to boron, as in the general formula above.

Molecular MV Formula of Per Total Structure of boron each subst. MV Activator substituents substituent V_(S) (Å³) (Å³) Dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl) borate

C₁₀F₇ 34 261 1044 Dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl) borate

C₁₂F₉ 42 349 1396 [4-tButyl-PhNMe₂H] [(C₆F₃(C₆F₅)₂)₄B]

C₁₈F₁₃ 62 515 2060

Exemplary bulky activators useful in catalyst systems herein include: trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, [4-t-butyl-PhNMe₂H][(C₆F₃(C₆F₅)₂)₄B], (where Ph is phenyl and Me is methyl), and the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,653.

Activator Combinations

It is within the scope of this invention that catalyst compounds can be combined with one or more activators or activation methods described above. For example, a combination of activators have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,153,157; 5,453,410; European publication EP 0 573 120 B1; PCT publications WO 94/07928; and WO 95/14044.

These documents all discuss the use of an alumoxane in combination with an ionizing activator.

(iii) Optional Co-Activators and Scavengers

In addition to these activator compounds, scavengers or co-activators may be used. Aluminum alkyl or organoaluminum compounds which may be utilized as co-activators (or scavengers) include, for example, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, and tri-n-octylaluminum.

(iv) Optional Support Materials

In embodiments herein, the catalyst system may comprise an inert support material. Preferably the supported material is a porous support material, for example, talc, and inorganic oxides. Other support materials include zeolites, clays, organoclays, or any other organic or inorganic support material and the like, or mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the support material is an inorganic oxide in a finely divided form. Suitable inorganic oxide materials for use in metallocene catalyst systems herein include Groups 2, 4, 13, and 14 metal oxides such as silica, alumina and mixtures thereof. Other inorganic oxides that may be employed either alone or in combination with the silica, or alumina are magnesia, titania, zirconia, and the like. Other suitable support materials, however, can be employed, for example, finely divided functionalized polyolefins such as finely divided polyethylene. Particularly useful supports include magnesia, titania, zirconia, montmorillonite, phyllosilicate, zeolites, talc, clays, and the like. Also, combinations of these support materials may be used, for example, silica-chromium, silica-alumina, silica-titania and the like. Preferred support materials include Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, SiO₂, and combinations thereof, more preferably SiO₂, Al₂O₃, or SiO₂/Al₂O₃.

It is preferred that the support material, most preferably an inorganic oxide, has a surface area in the range of from about 10 to about 700 m²/g, pore volume in the range of from about 0.1 to about 4.0 cc/g and average particle size in the range of from about 5 to about 500 μm. More preferably, the surface area of the support material is in the range of from about 50 to about 500 m²/g, pore volume of from about 0.5 to about 3.5 cc/g and average particle size of from about 10 to about 200 μm. Most preferably the surface area of the support material is in the range is from about 100 to about 400 m²/g, pore volume from about 0.8 to about 3.0 cc/g and average particle size is from about 5 to about 100 μm. The average pore size of the support material useful in the invention is in the range of from 10 to 1000 Å, preferably 50 to about 500 Å, and most preferably 75 to about 350 Å. In some embodiments, the support material is a high surface area, amorphous silica (surface area=300 m²/gm; pore volume of 1.65 cm³/gm), and examples include materials marketed under the tradenames of DAVISON 952 or DAVISON 955 by the Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace and Company. In other embodiments, DAVIDSON 948 is used.

The support material should be dry, that is, free of absorbed water. Drying of the support material can be effected by heating or calcining at about 100° C. to about 1000° C., preferably at least about 600° C. When the support material is silica, it is heated to at least 200° C., preferably about 200° C. to about 850° C., and most preferably at about 600° C.; and for a time of about 1 minute to about 100 hours, from about 12 hours to about 72 hours, or from about 24 hours to about 60 hours. The calcined support material must have at least some reactive hydroxyl (OH) groups to produce the catalyst system of this invention. The calcined support material is then contacted with at least one polymerization catalyst comprising at least one metallocene compound and an activator.

Methods of Making the Supported Catalyst Systems

The support material, having reactive surface groups, typically hydroxyl groups, is slurried in a non-polar solvent and the resulting slurry is contacted with a solution of a metallocene compound and an activator. The slurry of the support material in the solvent is prepared by introducing the support material into the solvent, and heating the mixture to about 0° C. to about 70° C., preferably to about 25° C. to about 60° C., preferably at room temperature. Contact times typically range from about 0.5 hours to about 24 hours, from about 2 hours to about 16 hours, or from about 4 hours to about 8 hours.

Suitable non-polar solvents are materials in which all of the reactants used herein, i.e., the activator, and the metallocene compound, are at least partially soluble and which are liquid at reaction temperatures. Preferred non-polar solvents are alkanes, such as isopentane, hexane, n-heptane, octane, nonane, and decane, although a variety of other materials including cycloalkanes, such as cyclohexane, aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene, may also be employed.

In embodiments herein, the support material is contacted with a solution of a metallocene compound and an activator, such that the reactive groups on the support material are titrated, to form a supported polymerization catalyst. The period of time for contact between the metallocene compound, the activator, and the support material is as long as is necessary to titrate the reactive groups on the support material. To “titrate” is meant to react with available reactive groups on the surface of the support material, thereby reducing the surface hydroxyl groups by at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 98%. The surface reactive group concentration may be determined based on the calcining temperature and the type of support material used. The support material calcining temperature affects the number of surface reactive groups on the support material available to react with the metallocene compound and an activator: the higher the drying temperature, the lower the number of sites. For example, where the support material is silica which, prior to the use thereof in the first catalyst system synthesis step, is dehydrated by fluidizing it with nitrogen and heating at about 600° C. for about 16 hours, a surface hydroxyl group concentration of about 0.7 millimoles per gram (mmols/gm) is typically achieved. Thus, the exact molar ratio of the activator to the surface reactive groups on the carrier will vary. Preferably, this is determined on a case-by-case basis to assure that only so much of the activator is added to the solution as will be deposited onto the support material without leaving excess of the activator in the solution.

The amount of the activator which will be deposited onto the support material without leaving excess in the solution can be determined in any conventional manner, e.g., by adding the activator to the slurry of the carrier in the solvent, while stirring the slurry, until the activator is detected as a solution in the solvent by any technique known in the art, such as by ¹H NMR. For example, for the silica support material heated at about 600° C., the amount of the activator added to the slurry is such that the molar ratio of B to the hydroxyl groups (OH) on the silica is about 0.5:1 to about 4:1, preferably about 0.8:1 to about 3:1, more preferably about 0.9:1 to about 2:1 and most preferably about 1:1. The amount of B on the silica may be determined by using ICPES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry), which is described in J. W. Olesik, “Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy,” in the Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization, C. R. Brundle, C. A. Evans, Jr. and S. Wilson, eds., Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, Mass., 1992, pp. 633-644. In another embodiment, it is also possible to add such an amount of activator which is in excess of that which will be deposited onto the support, and then remove, e.g., by filtration and washing, any excess of the activator.

In another embodiment this invention relates to:

1. A higher olefin polymer having an Mn (measured by ¹H NMR) of at least 200 g/mol, (preferably 200 to 100,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 75,000 g/mol, preferably 200 to 60,000 g/mol, preferably 300 to 60,000 g/mol, or preferably 750 to 30,000 g/mol), comprising: (i) one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof) higher olefin derived units; wherein the vinyl terminated higher olefin polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units (preferably less than 0.1 wt % propylene, preferably 0 wt % propylene); wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% (at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%; at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) allyl chain ends; optionally, an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 1:1 or greater (preferably greater than 2:1, greater than 2.5:1, greater than 3:1, greater than 5:1, or greater than 10:1); even further optionally preferably substantially no isobutyl chain ends (preferably less than 0.1 wt % isobutyl chain ends); and yet further optionally, these higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers may comprise at least 5 mol % (preferably at least 15 mol %, at least 25 mol %, at least 35 mol %, at least 45 mol %, at least 60 mol %, at least 75 mol %, or at least 90 mol %) ethylene derived units. 2. The higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer of paragraph 1, wherein the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer comprises at least 50 wt %, based upon the weight of the polymer composition, of olefins having at least 36 carbon atoms, as measured by ¹H NMR, assuming one unsaturation per chain. 3. The higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer of paragraphs 1 and 2, wherein the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer comprises less than 20 wt % dimer and trimer, preferably less than 10 wt %, preferably less than 5 wt %, or more preferably less than 2 wt %, based upon the weight of the copolymer composition, as measured by GC. 4. The higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein the higher olefin copolymer has a viscosity at 60° C. of greater than 1000 cP, greater than 12,000 cP, or greater than 100,000 cP (alternatively less than 200,000 cP, less than 150,000 cP, or less than 100,000 cP). 5. A process for making the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the process comprises contacting: (i) one or more (preferably two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like) C₄ to C₄₀ (preferably C₄ to C₃₀, C₄ to C₂₀, or C₄ to C₁₂, preferably butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof) monomers; (ii) substantially no propylene (preferably less than 0.1 wt % propylene) monomer; (iii) optionally, at least 5 mol % (preferably at least 15 mol %, at least 25 mol %, at least 35 mol %, at least 45 mol %, at least 60 mol %, at least 75 mol %, or at least 90 mol %) ethylene monomer; wherein the contacting occurs in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and at least one metallocene compound represented by one of the following formulae:

where: M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system; each Q is, independently carbon or a heteroatom; each R¹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, R¹ may the same or different as R²; each R² is, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R³ is, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided however that at least three R³ groups are not hydrogen; each R⁴ is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; R⁵ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R⁷ is, independently, hydrogen, or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, provided however that at least seven R⁷ groups are not hydrogen; T is a bridging group; each R^(a), is independently, hydrogen, halogen or a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl; two R^(a) can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system; and further provided that any two adjacent R groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated; or (v)

where: M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halides, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two X's may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system); each R⁸ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; each R⁹ is, independently, a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl group; each R¹⁰ is hydrogen; each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³, is, independently, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or heteroatom containing group; T is a bridging group; and further provided that any of adjacent R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³ groups may form a fused ring or multicenter fused ring system where the rings may be aromatic, partially saturated or saturated; or (vi)

wherein M is hafnium or zirconium; each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halogens, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, or a combination thereof; each R¹⁵ and R¹⁷ are, independently, a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; each R¹⁶, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, and R²⁸ are, independently, hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and wherein the C₄ to C₄₀ higher olefin is selected from butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof. 6. The process of paragraph 5, wherein the activator is a bulky activator represented by the formula:

where: each R₁ is, independently, a halide, preferably a fluoride; each R₂ is, independently, a halide, a C₆ to C₂₀ substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group or a siloxy group of the formula —O—S₁—R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group, preferably a fluoride or a C₆ perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbyl group; each R₃ is a halide, C₆ to C₂₀ substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group, or a siloxy group of the formula —O—S₁—R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group, preferably a fluoride or a C₆ perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbyl group; and wherein L is an neutral Lewis base; H is hydrogen; (L-H)⁺ is a Bronsted acid; d is 1; wherein the anion has a molecular weight of greater than 1020 g/mole; and wherein at least three of the substituents on the B atom each have a molecular volume of greater than 250 cubic Å, alternately greater than 300 cubic Å, or alternately greater than 500 cubic Å. 7. The process of paragraphs 5 to 6, wherein the bulky activator is at least one of: trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, triethylsilylium tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(perfluorobiphenyl)borate, [4-t-butyl-PhNMe₂H][(C₆F₃(C₆F₅)₂)₄B], (where Ph is phenyl and Me is methyl). 8. A composition comprising the higher olefin copolymers of paragraphs 1 to 4 or made by the process of paragraphs 5 to 7, preferably the composition is a lubricant blend. 9. The use of the composition of paragraph 8 as a lubricant.

EXAMPLES

Product Characterization

Products were characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR as follows:

¹³C NMR

¹³C NMR data was collected at 120° C. at a frequency of at least 100 MHz, using a Bruker 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. A 90 degree pulse, an acquisition time adjusted to give a digital resolution between 0.1 and 0.12 Hz, at least a 10 second pulse acquisition delay time with continuous broadband proton decoupling using swept square wave modulation without gating was employed during the entire acquisition period. The spectra were acquired with time averaging to provide a signal to noise level adequate to measure the signals of interest. Samples were dissolved in tetrachloroethane-d₂ at concentrations between 10 to 15 wt % prior to being inserted into the spectrometer magnet.

Prior to data analysis spectra were referenced by setting the chemical shift of the TCE solvent signal to 74.39 ppm.

Chain ends for quantization were identified using the signals shown in the table below. N-butyl and n-propyl were not reported due to their low abundance (less than 5%) relative to the chain ends shown in the table below.

Chain End ¹³CNMR Chemical Shift P~i-Bu 23-5 to 25.5 and 25.8 to 26.3 ppm E~i-Bu 39.5 to 40.2 ppm P~Vinyl 41.5 to 43 ppm E~Vinyl 33.9 to 34.4 ppm ¹H NMR

¹H NMR data was collected at either room temperature or 120° C. (for purposes of the claims, 120° C. shall be used) in a 5 mm probe using a Varian spectrometer with a ¹H frequency of at least 250 MHz. Data was recorded using a maximum pulse width of 45° C., 8 seconds between pulses and signal averaging 120 transients. Spectral signals were integrated and the number of unsaturation types per 1000 carbons was calculated by multiplying the different groups by 1000 and dividing the result by the total number of carbons. Mn was calculated by dividing the total number of unsaturated species into 14,000, and has units of g/mol.

The chemical shift regions for the olefin types are defined to be between the following spectral regions.

Region Number of hydrogens Unsaturation Type (ppm) per structure Vinyl 4.95-5.10 2 Vinylidene (VYD) 4.70-4.84 2 Vinylene 5.31-5.55 2 Trisubstituted 5.11-5.30 1 Viscosity

Viscosity was measured using a Brookfield Digital Viscometer.

Examples

All experiments were performed under air free and moisture free conditions using nitrogen-filled gloveboxes and Schlenk lines. Toluene, 1-decene, and 1-hexene were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Milwaukee, Wis.) and dried with alumina beads previously calcined at 300° C. Dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate was purchased from Albemarle (Baton Rouge, La.) and used as received. 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-2-yliddene[2-(1-propoxy)-5-(N,N-dimethyl-aminosulfonyl)phenyl]methyleneruthenium(II) dichloride was purchased from Strem Chemicals (Newburyport, Mass.) and used as received.

Scavengers and Co-Catalysts

Triisobutyl aluminum (TIBAL) was obtained from Akzo Chemicals, Inc. (Chicago, Ill.) and used without further purification. Tri n-octyl aluminum (TNOAL) was obtained from Akzo Chemicals, Inc. and used without further purification.

Metallocenes Used in Examples

Metallocenes A to C, below, were synthesized. Typical dry-box procedures for synthesis of air-sensitive compounds were followed including using dried glassware (90° C., 4 hours) and anhydrous solvents purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.) which were further dried over 3 A sieves.

Synthesis Of Metallocene E and Metallocene F:

Metallocenes E and F were synthesized as indicated below.

Synthesis of Compounds 1a+1b

Compound A (2-methyl indene, 10 g, 76.9 mmol) was dissolved in diethyl ether (150 mLs) and deprotonated with nBuLi (10 M, hexanes, 77 mmol). After 4 hrs propyl bromide (CH₃CH₂CH₂Br, 18 g, 146 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture followed by tetrahydrofuran (THF, 50 mLs) and the reaction was stirred for 12 additional hours at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with water and the organic layer dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄). Removal of volatiles gave an isomeric mixture of 1a and 1b as yellow oil (10.5 g, 83% yield). ¹H NMR (C₆D₆, 500 MHz) δ ppm; Compound 1a: 6.22 (s), 3.05 (m), 1.79 (s) 0.75 (t). Compound 1b: 2.91 (s), 2.36 (t, 1.79 (s), 0.85 (t).

Synthesis of Compound 2

The mixture of 1a and 1b was dissolved in hexane (200 mL) and deprotonated with n-butyl lithium (nBuLi, 6.1 mL of a 10 M solution in hexane, 61 mmol). After 12 hours at room temperature, solids were collected onto a glass frit, washed with additional hexane (2×50 mLs), and dried in vacuo to give Compound 2 as a white solid (10.8 g, quantitative yield). ¹H NMR (THF-d8, 500 MHz) δ ppm; Compound 2: 7.09 (m, C₆H₄ ring), 6.30 (m, C₆H₄ ring), 5.47 (s, C₅H ring), 2.70 (t, C₅—CH₂—), 2.17 (s, C₅-Me), 1.50 (m, C₅—CH₂—CH₂—), 0.89 (t, —C₂H₄-Me).

Synthesis of Compounds 4+1b

All of the lithiated ligand Compound 2 was dissolved in THF (100 mL) and reacted with dichlorodimethylsilane (Me₂SiCl₂, 3.8 g, 29 mmol) for 10 hours at room temperature. ¹H NMR indicated the formation of 4 and 1b. Compound 4 was purified by column chromatography (75% hexane/25% ethyl acetate v/v) on silica gel (200-400 mesh).

Synthesis of Compound 5

The hexane extracts containing Compound 4 were reacted with nBuLi (5 g, 10 M in hexanes) to afford a solid. The white solid product 5 was filtered onto a glass frit, washed with hexanes (2×30 mLs) and dried in vacuo (9.1 g, 84% based on 1a, 1b). Compound 5: ¹H NMR (THF-d8, 250 MHz) δ ppm; 7.57 (m), 7.12 (m), 6.30 (m), 3.55 (t), 2.70 (t), 2.34 (s), 1.46 (m), 0.85 (t), 0.59 (s).

Synthesis Of Metallocene E

The synthesis of Metallocene E illustrated, below.

Synthesis of Compound 6

Compound 5 (6.6 g, 16.0 mmol) was slurried in diethyl ether (100 mLs) and reacted with hafnium tetrachloride (HfCl₄, 4.2 g, 13.1 mmol). After 1 hour about 50 mLs diethyl ether were removed and compound 6 (dimethylsilylbis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl)hafniumdichloride) was collected as a bright yellow solid on a glass frit (4.2 g, 49.5%).

Synthesis of Metallocene E

Compound 6 was slurried in diethyl ether (50 mL) and toluene (80 mL) and reacted with methyl magnesium iodide (MeMgI, 5.6 g, 3M in diethyl ether) at room temperature for 16 hours. Dimethoxyethane (DME, 6 g) was added to the crude reaction mixture, the mixture filtered through a medium glass frit, and the filtrate collected. The volume of the filtrate was reduced, pentane added (30 mL), and the filtrate cooled to −35° C. Compound 7 (rac-dimethylsilylbis(2-methyl,3-propylindenyl) hafnium dimethyl) was collected as a first crop of crystals (pure rac-7, 0.6 g, 16%) and as a second crop (5% meso-7 and 95% rac-7, 0.7 g, 19%). Compound 7: ¹H NMR (CD₂Cl₂, 500 MHz) δ ppm; 7.4 (d), 7.3 (d), 7.08 (t), 6.75 (t), 2.68 to 2.22 (complex m), 1.87 (s), 1.41 (m), 0.97 (s), 0.81 (t), −1.95 (s).

where Me is methyl.

Synthesis of Compound 9

Compound 5 (8.2 g, 19.9 mmol) was slurried in diethyl ether (150 mLs) and reacted with ZrCl₄ (4.2 g, 17.9 mmol) at room temperature. After 4 hrs, an orange solid was collected on a medium frit and washed with additional diethyl ether (2×30 mLs). The product was dried in vacuo to yield pure rac-9 (3.8 g, 38%). ¹H NMR (CD₂Cl₂, 500 MHz) δ ppm; 7.63 (d), 7.41 (d), 7.3 (m), 6.96 (m), 2.57 (d of m), 2.04 (s), 1.42 (m), 1.31 (s), 0.88 (t).

Synthesis of Metallocene F

Compound 9 (1.12 g, 2.0 mmol) was slurried in diethyl ether (80 mL) and reacted with MeMgI (1.7 g, 4.5 mmol, 3.0 M) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 48 hrs at room temperature. Volatiles were removed in vacuo and the crude reaction mixture extracted with hexane (3×20 mLs). Reduction of hexane solution to 20 mLs and cooling to −35° C. gave F as a yellow crystalline solid (0.8 g, 77%). ¹H NMR (CD₂Cl₂, 500 MHz) δ ppm; 7.38 (m), 7.15 (t), 6.78 (t), 2.52 (d of m), 1.85 (s), 1.57 (m), 1.06 (s), 0.86 (t), −1.71 (s).

Metallocene C Synthesis

3H-Benz[e]indene (Benzo(4,5)indene) was purchased from Boulder Scientific (Boulder, Colo.). Pentamethylcyclopentadiene was purchased from Norquay. All other reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich.

Synthesis of [Li][1,3-Dimethylbenz[e]indene]

[Li][Benz[e]indene] was generated in ether by the reaction of 3H-Benz[e]indene (12.0 g, 0.072 mol) with 1.1 equivalents of n-BuLi (7.90 mLs of 10 M/hexane, 0.079 mol) which was added slowly. After 2 hours, the [Li][Benz[e]indene] was isolated by removal of the ether under vacuum. The residue was triturated with hexane to give an off-white solid. The solid was collected on a medium sized glass frit by vacuum filtration, washed with excess hexane and dried in vacuo, providing pure [Li][Benz[e]indene] as an off-white solid (12.0 g, 97%). The product was characterized by ¹H NMR: (THF-d₈, 250 MHz) δ ppm: 8.02 (d, J=10 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 7.47 (t, J=6.3 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 2H), 7.09 (t, J=6.2 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.91 (t, J=1 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.74 (d, J=10 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.59 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.46 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.46 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.09 (s, indenyl proton, 1H).

[Li][Benz[e]indene] (12.0 g, 0.070 mol) was dissolved in ether, cooled to −35° C. and reacted with 6.0 equivalents of MeI (59.34 g, 0.418 mmol). The reaction was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 12 hours, the reaction was quenched with water and extracted with ether. The organics were concentrated to yield a crude oil which was distilled using Kugelrohr apparatus to provide a clear oil which was a clean mixture of 3-methyl-3H-benz[e]indene and 1-methyl-1H-benz[e]indene isomers (7.58 g, 58%). The product was characterized by ¹H NMR: (CD₂Cl₂, 250 MHz) δ ppm: 8.25-7.42 (m, C₁₀H₆, 10H), 7.15 (d, J=6.3 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 2H), 7.09 (t, J=6.2 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.91 (t, J=1 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.74 (d, J=10 Hz, C₁₀H₆, 1H), 6.59 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.46 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.46 (s, indenyl proton, 1H), 6.09 (s, indenyl proton, 1H).

Similarly, [Li][methylbenz[e]indene] was generated in ether by the reaction of the isomer mix of 3-methyl-3H-benz[e]indene and 1-methyl-1H-benz[e]indene (7.58 g, 0.041 mol) with 1.1 equivalents of n-BuLi (4.45 mLs of 10 M/hexane, 0.045 mol) which was added slowly. After 2 hours, the [Li][methylbenz[e]indene] was isolated by removal of the ether under vacuum. The residue was triturated with hexane to give an off-white solid. The solid was collected on a medium sized glass frit by vacuum filtration, washed with excess hexane and dried in vacuo, providing pure [Li][methylbenz[e]indene] as an off-white solid (6.97 g, 85%).

[Li][methylbenz[e]indene] (6.97 g, 0.037 mol) was dissolved in ether, cooled to −35° C. and reacted with 3.7 equivalents of MeI (19.52 g, 0.138 mmol). The reaction was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 12 hours, the reaction was quenched with water and extracted with ether. The organics were concentrated to yield a yellow oil which was a mixture of 1,3-dimethyl-3H-benz[e]indene, 1,3-dimethyl-1H-benz[e]indene, 3,3-dimethyl-3H-benz[e] indene, and 1,1-dimethyl-1H-benz[e]indene isomers (6.63 g, 91%).

Similarly, [Li][1,3-Dimethylbenz[e]indene] was generated in ether by the reaction of the dimethylbenzindene isomer mixture above (6.63 g, 0.034 mol) with 1.1 equivalents of n-BuLi (3.74 mLs of 10 M/hexane, 0.037 mol) which was added slowly. After 2 hours, the [Li][1,3-Dimethylbenz[e]indene] was isolated by removal of the ether under vacuum. The residue was triturated with hexane to give an off-white solid. The solid was collected on a medium sized glass frit by vacuum filtration, washed with excess hexane and dried in vacuo, providing pure [Li][1,3-Dimethylbenz[e]indene] as an off-white solid (5.43 g, 79%). The product was characterized by ¹H NMR: (THF-d₈, 250 MHz) δ ppm: 8.19 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.09 (t, J=1.4 Hz, 1H), 6.91 (t, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 5.98 (s, 1H), 2.65 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H).

Synthesis of (CpMe₅)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfMe₂ (Metallocene C)

CpMe₅HfCl₃ (3.8 g) was reacted with [Li][1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl] (2.5 g, 4.3 mmol) in Et₂O (80 ml) for 48 hr. (Crowther, D.; Baenziger, N.; Jordan, R.; J. Journal of the American Chemical Society (1991), 113(4), pp. 1455-1457). The pale yellow product was collected by filtration over a glass fit and dried to yield crude (CpMe₅)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfCl₂ (3.2 g) as a mixture with LiCl. ¹H NMR (CD₂Cl₂, 250 MHz) δ ppm; 8.13, 7.80 (d, Ha, Ha′, 1H), 7.59 to 7.36 (multipletes, Hb, Hb′, Hc, Hc′, 4H) 6.10 (s, Hd, 1H), 2.62, 2.45 (s, 1,3Me₂C₉H₅, 3 H), 2.10 (s, CpMe₅).

(CpMe₅)(1,3-Me₂-benz[e]indenyl)HfCl₂ (2.5 g) was slurried in toluene (100 ml) and reacted with MeMgI (4.2 g, 2.1 equiv, 3.0 M in Et₂O). The reaction mixture was heated to 80° C. for 3 hrs. After cooling the volatiles were removed in vacuo to yield a solid which was extracted with hexane (4×40 ml). Hexane was removed from the combined extractions to yield solid yellow (CpMe₅)(1,3-Me₂C₉H₅)HfMe₂ (1.6 g). ¹H NMR(C₆D₆, 300 MHz) δ ppm; 7.55-7.48 (m, C₆H₄, 2H), 7.20-7.16 (m, C₉H₅, 3H), 2.00 (s, 1,3Me₂C₉H₅, 6H), 1.76 (s, CpMe₅, 15H), −0.95 (s, Hf-Me, 6H).

Metallocenes A, B, and C were used in the examples below.

Metallocene Structure E

F

C

Synthesis of ¹³C Labeled 1-Decene

A 2.0 gram amount of 1-decene was placed in a 125 ml pressurized reaction vessel equipped with a magnetic stir bar and a 5.0 milligram amount of 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-2-yliddene[2-(1-propoxy)-5-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)phenyl]methylene ruthenium(II) dichloride. The solution was put in a bath of liquid nitrogen and placed under vacuum. ¹³C labeled ethylene (500 mls, 1 atm) was condensed into the pressurized reaction vessel. The liquid nitrogen bath was removed. After the solution thawed, the bottle was heated to 50° C. with stirring for two hours. The bottle was depressurized, and the solution was filtered through a gram of silica to remove the catalyst residue. The 1-decene was distilled via short path distillation. Separation of the homometathesis product, 9-octadecene, was not obtained, (approximately 30 mol %, by NMR). A ¹H NMR of the sample revealed approximately 60% incorporation of ¹³C label. ¹HNMR (500 MHz, CD₂ClCD₂Cl), δ ppm: 5.78 (m, 1H), 5.4 (m, vinylenes from octadecene in sample), 5.2.-4.8 (m, 2H; ¹³C labeled vinyls J_(H-C)=154 Hz) 1.99 (m, 2H), 1.3 (m, 12H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

Polymerization of ¹³C-labeled 1-decene

A 1.0 gram of ¹³C labeled 1-decene was placed in a 20 ml scintillation vial equipped with a stir bar. Two drops of TIBAL were added to the 1-decene. A separate solution of activated catalyst was prepared by combining 16 mgs of Metallocene A with 27 mgs of dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate in 11.0 grams of toluene. The Metallocene E solution (100 mgs) was combined with the 1-decene at 50° C. for two hours. The resulting oligomer was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CD₂ClCD₂Cl), δ ppm: 115 (labeled vinyl carbon, FIG. 1).

Polymerizations of 1-decene Example 1

A solution of activated catalyst was prepared by combining 15 mgs of Metallocene E with 32 mgs of dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate in 7.0 grams of toluene. The activated metallocene solution (100 mgs) was added to 10.0 grams of 1-decene in a 20 ml scintillation vial which had been preheated to 85° C. and contained two drops of TIBAL. After two hours, unreacted 1-decene was removed under a stream of nitrogen. Yield of poly(1-decene) was 8.3 grams. The polymer was analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy: Mn=5,644 g/mol (by ¹H NMR); End group analysis: vinyls=42 mol %, vinylidene=43 mol %, vinylenes=15 mol %.

Example 2

An oven dried, 100 mL round bottom flask was charged in a dry box with a stir bar, 1-decene (40 g, 285 mmol), and TIBAL (approximately 60 mg, 0.23 mmol) and heated to 50° C. As the solution stirred, metallocene C (422 μg, 0.78 μmol) and dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate (650 μg, 0.57 μmol) were added in one portion as a solution in toluene (400 μL). After 6 hours, the reaction was quenched with 1 mL of a 10% (v/v) isopropanol in pentane mixture. The more volatile components of the mixture were removed by heating the solution to 160° C. under a vacuum of 1500 mTorr. After distillation, 32.5 g (80%) of a heavy oil remained in the distillation pot. The polymer was analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy: Mn=12,700 g/mol; end group analysis: vinyls=36 mol %.

Reactor Description and Preparation

Polymerizations were conducted in an inert atmosphere (N₂) drybox using 48 Cell Parallel Pressure Reactors (PPR) equipped with external heaters for temperature control, glass inserts (internal volume of reactor=22.5 mL), septum inlets, regulated supply of nitrogen, and equipped with disposable PEEK (PolyEtherEtherKetone) mechanical stirrers (800 RPM). The PPRs were prepared for polymerization by purging with dry nitrogen at 150° C. for 5 hours and then at 25° C. for 5 hours.

Polymerizations of 1-hexene/1-octene.

1-octene and 1-hexene were added as indicated in the table below, and isohexane was then added such that the total volume of the solution was 5.0 ml. TNOAL was used as scavenger at a concentration of 1 M. A solution of dimethylaniliniumtetrakis (perfluoronaphthyl)borate in toluene was added first, followed by a solution of the metallocene, such that the activator to metallocene ratio was 1:1. The cells were heated to 85° C. and the reaction allowed to proceed for 1 hour. The reaction was quenched with air and unreacted monomers were removed in vacuo. Analysis of some of the cell products are listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Decene/Hexene Polymer Activity, Olefin (ml Kg Mn by octene:ml Polymer polymer/g ¹H Mol % Run Metallocene hexene) yield, g cat · hr NMR Vinyls A6 E 2:0 0.146 3.0 — — B6 E 1:1 0.273 5.6 3,744 61.9 C6 E 2:0 0.241 5.0 2,097 46.1 D6 E 1:1 0.305 6.3 — — E6 F 2:0 0.057 1.2 3,418 36.5 F6 F 1:1 0.077 1.6 — — G6 F 2:0 0.016 .33 — — H6 F 1:1 0.088 1.8 — —

The inventors have surprisingly produced vinyl terminated octene/hexene copolymers, in the absence of propylene.

All documents described herein are incorporated by reference herein, including any priority documents, related applications and/or testing procedures to the extent they are not inconsistent with this text, provided however that any priority document not named in the initially filed application or filing documents is NOT incorporated by reference herein. As is apparent from the foregoing general description and the specific embodiments, while forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereby. Likewise, the term “comprising” is considered synonymous with the term “including” for purposes of Australian law. Likewise, “comprising” encompasses the terms “consisting essentially of,” “is,” and “consisting of” and anyplace “comprising” is used “consisting essentially of,” “is,” or “consisting of” may be substituted therefor. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer having an Mn (measured by ¹H NMR) of 200 to 75,000 g/mol comprising one or more C₅ to C₄₀ higher olefin derived units, where the higher olefin polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units and the higher olefin polymer has at least 15% allyl chain ends, wherein the higher olefin polymer comprises at least 50 wt %, based upon the weight of the polymer composition, of olefins having at least 36 carbon atoms, as measured by ¹H NMR, assuming one unsaturation per chain.
 2. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has an Mn in the range of 200 to 60,000 g/mol.
 3. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the C₅ to C₄₀ higher olefin is selected from butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof.
 4. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, further comprising at least 5 mol % ethylene derived units.
 5. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 1:1 or greater.
 6. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer comprises less than 20 wt % dimer and trimer, based upon the weight of the copolymer composition.
 7. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin copolymer has a viscosity at 60° C. of greater than 1000 cP.
 8. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has a Tm of 50 to 150° C.
 9. A fuel comprising the higher olefin polymer of claim
 1. 10. A lubricant comprising the higher olefin polymer of claim
 1. 11. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has no detectable Tm by DSC following storage at 23° C. for 48 hours.
 12. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has a viscosity oat 60° C. of greater than 1000 cP and less than 200,000 cP.
 13. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has a Tg of less than 0° C.
 14. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 20% allyl chain ends.
 15. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 30% allyl chain ends.
 16. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 40% allyl chain ends.
 17. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 2.5:1 or greater and less than 0.1 wt % isobutyl chain ends.
 18. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer comprises two or more C₅ to C₄₀ higher olefin derived units.
 19. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has an Mn of 750 to 30,000 g/mol.
 20. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, further comprising at least 60 mol % ethylene derived units.
 21. The higher olefin polymer of claim 1, wherein the higher olefin polymer has an Mn of 750 to 30,000 g/mol comprising of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof, where the vinyl terminated higher olefin polymer comprises less than 0.1 wt % propylene derived units and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 30% allyl chain ends; and an allyl chain end to vinylidene chain end ratio of 2:1 or greater; and less than 0.1 wt % isobutyl chain ends.
 22. A reaction product of the allyl group of higher olefin polymer of claim 1 and a heteroatom containing group, where the heteroatom containing group is selected from amines, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, succinic acid, maleic acid, and maleic anhydride.
 23. A fuel or lubricant comprising the reaction product of the allyl group of higher olefin polymer of claim 1 and a heteroatom containing group, where the heteroatom containing group is selected from amines, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, succinic acid, maleic acid, and maleic anhydride. 